Selection for Calving Ease
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Selection for Calving Ease
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist
With bull turnout and breeding season in mind, we continue to discuss considerations about the bulls we'll be turning out. Specifically, selection for calving ease. If we intend to breed a set of heifers this spring, calving ease becomes an economically important trait in our next calf crop. Dystocia (calving difficulty, typically caused by a large or awkwardly positioned fetus) is far more likely to occur in first calf heifers and typically not a significant issue in mature beef cows. With no dystocia, calf death loss within 24 hours of birth is less than 5% but this percentage can increase by as much as 2 - 4 times if calving assistance is required. Heifers that calve unassisted do a better job of raising that calf, have shorter rebreeding intervals and calf earlier the following year. Obviously, we would like to avoid calving difficulty and if we have identified it as a priority, several selection tools are available.
First, sire selection is critical. Over time, 90% of genetic change is a result of sire selection because bulls sire more calves in a breeding season than a cow will produce in her lifetime. Effective sire selection should be based on EPDs resulting from genetic prediction. Selection based on EPDs is 7 - 9 times more effective than selection based on weights or within herd ratios alone. EPDs are more effective because they are calculated based on individual weights, within herd ratios, pedigree relationship and the performance of all relatives, as well as DNA.
So when calving ease is important consider the following EPDs: Calving Ease Direct (CED), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire's calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers. Example: - Bull A has CED of 5 - Bull B has a CED of 16 If we mate both bulls to a set of virgin replacement heifers, we are 11% less likely to pull a calf sired by bull B Birth Weight EPD (BW), expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire's ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Example: - Bull C has a Birth Weight EPD of -0.7 - Bull D has a Birth Weight EPD of 3.3 Calves sired by bull C will weigh 4 lbs. less at birth, on average
If you will be keeping replacement heifers sired by bulls you'll be turning out this year, consider:
Calving Ease Maternal (CEM), is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which a sire's daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other sires. Because it is a trait expressed when the bull's daughters are having their first calves it is a "next generation" maternal predictor. Example - Bull E has a CEM of 8 - Bull F has a CEM of 13
If we are calving out the daughters of both bulls which are mated to the same sire, we are 5 % less likely to pull a calf from one of bull F's daughters
Bottom line: Selection of genetically superior sires is the fastest approach to herd improvement and profitability. Genetic improvement is cumulative and permanent. Investing in improved genetics now will pay dividends for generations to come.
To view Dr. Johnson's segment on Sunup TV Cow-Calf Corner from March 13, 2021 on using EPDs for bull selection to improve your herd: Cow-Calf Corner - EPDs 3/13/21 — SUNUP TV (okstate.edu)
To receive "Cow/Calf Corner", contact email Paul Beck (paul.beck@okstate) or Derrell Peel (derrell.peel@okstate.edu) to get added to our email list.
Upcoming Events
Farm Tour
May 31, 2024
Holland, NY
Good Farmers Guild of WNY will be hosting a farm tour and potluck at Rise'N'Swine Farm on Friday, May 31st at 5 pm. Rise'N'Swine has built a successful business raising cattle, pigs, and chickens on pasture, and has an on-farm butcher shop. After the farm tour, there will be a potluck dinner. Please bring a dish to pass and your own plate, bowl, cup, and cutlery.
Rise'N'Swine Farm is located at 9806 Wagner Rd, Holland, NY 14080. There is ample parking in front of the farmshop. Farmers, people who work on farms, and ag service providers are welcome at this free event!
Broiler Field Day at Sunny Cove Farm
June 6, 2024
Alfred Station, NY
Join us for a field day to explore broiler production, processing, and finances. Meghan Snyder of Sunny Cove Farm will be our host. She raises small batches of organic broilers, processing them on-farm under the 1,000 bird exemption.
Cornell Seed Growers Field Day
July 2, 2024
Ithaca, NY
Please Save the Date for the Cornell Seed Growers Field Day to be held the morning of July 2nd. The event will be held at the NYSIP Foundation Seed Barn, 791 Dryden Rd., Rt. 366, Ithaca, NY.
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