Are Simmental bulls easy calving?
Table of Contents
Are Simmental bulls easy calving?
Calves were out of Hereford and Angus cows, 4 years old and older….Table 3.
| Breed of sire | Calving difficulty | Birth weight |
|---|---|---|
| Simmental | 14.9 percent | 88.9 pounds |
| Charolais | 18.4 percent | 90.6 pounds |
| Maine Anjou | 20.4 percent | 90.6 pounds |
| Overall average | 8.3 percent | 83.5 pounds |
What is a good calving difficulty percentage?
Calving Difficulty Ready Reckoner (All Breeds)
| Old Calving Difficulty Range | Breed | Dairy Cow |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5% to 4.4% | HE | 5.1 |
| 4.5% to 6.0% | HE | 5.8 |
| 6.1% to 7.3% | HE | 6.6 |
| >=7.4% | HE | 7.4 |
Which calving ease score is the most desirable?
To make the most effective use of these tools, it’s helpful to understand a few relevant details. Calving ease is scored on a scale from 1 to 5. A score of 1 represents an unassisted calving, 2 is some assistance, 3 is mechanical assistance, 4 is a C-section, and 5 is an abnormal presentation.
What makes a calving ease bull?
Calving ease EPDs are expressed in percentage units of unassisted births. For example, a bull with a calving ease EPD of 12 is expected to have 7% more unassisted births from first calf heifers than a bull with a CE EPD of 5.
What is a good calving ease EPD number?
If the bulls used on first-calf heifers have averaged a +6 for the CED EPD for several years and you have yet to pull a calf, then a +6 CED bull is a safe option.
How do you manage calving difficulties?
Genetic selection is the primary tool for effective management of birth weight and calving difficulty. Birth weight is a highly heritable trait, and therefore responds favorable with selection.
Which EPD is the best indicator of the calving ease of a bull when bred to heifers?
“When we use birth weight EPDs, that’s a good indirect measurement of calving ease. The biggest indicator of direct calving ease is birth weight,” Bertrand points out.
What are common reasons for calving difficulties?
The two most important known causes of calving difficulty in heifers are:
- excessive calf size at birth.
- inadequate size of the birth canal.
What is the primary cause of calving difficulty?
Temperature has been shown to have a significant impact on calf birth weight. Although using sires with low birth weight EPDs may reduce some calving problems, environmental factors are responsible for approximately 55 percent of calving difficulties.
