Tube-Feeding a Calf

Why Tube-Feed?

• Ensure that newborn calves receive colostrum within 24 hours of birth. Ideally, calves should have colostrum within 1–2 hours after birth. After 24 hours, a calf’s intestines cannot absorb antibodies (Waechter-Mead, 2022).
• Provide milk if calves are unable to nurse or suck from the nipple bottle.
• Provide electrolytes when sick.

Materials

Various types of tubes are available for tube-feeding (Figure 1).

• Esophageal tubes
• Shorter, extending just past the larynx (throat).
• You can feel the rounded end in the esophagus.
• Foal tubes
• Longer, passing through the esophagus and into the stomach.
• Reduces the chance of getting fluid in the lungs.

Tube-Feeding Steps

1. Restrain the calf.

• Position a standing calf between your legs and guide it backward into a corner, ensuring its head remains upright.
• If the calf is unable to stand but can still swallow, place the calf on its sternum, and support its head to keep it elevated.

2. Measure the tube.

• Distance should be measured from the tip of the nose to the elbow and marked on the tube. This is the approximate length at which it should be inserted. See Figure 2 (McGill, 2023).

3. Insert the tube.

• Keep the tube free from fluids during insertion.
• Lubricate the probe with a small amount of vegetable oil, mineral oil, or veterinary-grade obstetrical lubricant.
• Raise the calf’s head and squeeze the sides of the mouth gently to open its mouth. The calf’s head should be in a neutral position. If it is too extended, the feeding tube has a greater chance of entering the trachea, which leads to the lungs. If fluid enters the trachea, the calf can aspirate.
• Slowly push the tube to the back of the mouth, aiming for the left of the throat.
• Wait for the calf to swallow.
• Once the calf swallows the end of the feeder, slide the tube gently down the esophagus to the mark made previously on the tube.
• Stop immediately if you feel any resistance; pull the tube out slightly, and redirect. Never force the tube.
• When the tube is in the correct place, the calf should appear comfortable and be able to swallow (Figure 3; Malacco et al., 2023).

4. Check the tube.

• Palpate the left side of the calf’s neck to ensure proper tube placement.
• When the tube is in the correct position, you will feel two tube-like structures (windpipe and esophagus with the feeding tube).
• The trachea is firm and has ridges obvious to the touch.
• The esophagus is soft and collapsible and can only be felt with a tube inserted.
• If only one tubular structure can be felt, the tube is in the trachea; you might also feel air escaping the tube. Remove the tube and insert it again following the steps previously mentioned.

5. Administer fluids.

• If the calf is comfortable and the tube has been placed correctly, the fluid can be introduced.
• Liquid should be body temperature, 98 °F to 100 °F.
• Allow the fluid to flow by gravity. The calf may move around when it feels pressure in the rumen (stomach).
• Administer the colostrum by raising the bag above the calf and allowing the fluid to flow by gravity. Never squeeze the bag to hurry the process (Arnold, n.d.).
• Feed 1.5–2 quarts. Split the feeding into smaller volumes if it’s uncertain how much the calf has consumed.

6. Remove and clean the tube.

• Wait until all liquid has exited the tube and passed down the esophagus.
• Kink the feeding tube to stop the flow of fluid.
• Hold the calf still and gently pull out the tube in one swift motion.
• Clean the feeding tube immediately so it is ready for the next use.
• Rinse with cold water and then wash in hot, soapy water.
• Follow with a chlorine and hot water rinse.
• Hang the tube to drain and dry.

Illustration Credit

Rebekah Esplin, USU Extension, provided the illustrations in this fact sheet.

References

• Arnold, M. (n.d.). The esophageal feeder - a life saving tool for calves [Fact sheet]. Department of Animal & Food Sciences, University of Kentucky. https://afs.ca.uky.edu/dairy/esophageal-feeder-life-saving-tool-calves
• Malacco, V., Sanguesa, P. B., & Lage, C. (2023, January 10). Steps for tube-feeding calves [Fact sheet]. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/steps-for-tube-feeding-calves
• McGill. (2023). Tube feeding a calf [Fact sheet, DC-506]. dc-506_tube_feeding_a_calf.pdf (mcgill.ca)
• Waechter-Mead, L. (2022, March 1). How colostrum works, why calves need it, and what to do if they aren’t getting it. University of Nebraska - Lincoln. https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch/2022/colostrum-101/

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Authors

Cheyenne Reid, Reganne Briggs, Melanie Heaton, Rebekah Esplin, and David Secrist

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