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A monthly news letter that deals with the issues of raising cows in the U.S. Northeast.
Calving ease is also the selection of bulls and females (cows and heifers) based on EPDs (Expected Progeny Differences). Calving ease EPDs are divided into two categories: Direct calving ease and Maternal calving ease.
DCE is an estimate of calving ease of calves sired by or out of this individual; basically, it is determined by the size, shape, etc. of the calf produced by a particular bull or cow. For bulls, this is the expected calving ease (or ease of birth) compared to other bulls when bred to equal cows. For females, this is the expected calving ease of a calf she might produce excluding her own maternal influence. In other words, this is the relative ease of being born of calves conceived by the female with maternal calving factors equalized. Another way of looking at this is the calving ease expected from embryos implanted into exactly equal recipients.
MCE is the relative ease of calving experienced by daughters of this individual; basically, it is determined by the size, internal structure, uterine environment, etc., of the calving female. This is an estimate of the ease with which daughters of this individual would give birth compared to daughters of other individuals, as if all daughters were bred to same sire and managed equally.
The above is from Beef Cattle Science 7th ed., Chapter 4: Selecting Beef Cattle, p. 121.
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How do you get your heifer serviced?
Put a calving-ease yearling bull in with her.
What dairy cattle breed is ranked first for sire calving ease?
Jersey.
What features would be looked for in the parent cow?
Good conformation, good milking ability, calving ease, forage convertibility, etc.
What is the name for gestation of cattle?
Birthing, or calving.
What is better a jersey cow or a holstein cow?
In terms of what, quantity of milk? Butterfat? Milking ability? Temperament? Calving ease? Please be more specific.
How are birth weights and calving difficulty involved in the selection of herd sires?
Each herdsire has what's called EPDs, or expected progeny differences, which are numbers according to his breeding and comparison to other bulls of the same breed and raised in the same environment. EPDs are used to determine a bull's ability to sire small calves that have low birthweights and thus are low calving difficulty, or if they sire large calves with high birthweights and thus high calving difficulty. The producer first has to look at his cowherd and the average birthweights that they have been able to produce (with emphasis on those cows and heifers that have had problems calving out), and compare that, with a grain of salt, to the EPDs of the herdsire he wishes to buy. If that herdsire has a lower BW than the average of the herd, and has an estimated value of calving ease that is slightly above zero or negative, then that herdsire is good to use for improving calving ease in the herd.
Is it easy for a Limousin cow to have a calf?
Yes it should be, since Limousins are known for their great calving-ease, or ability to give birth without human assistance.
How do you breed for yellow calves?
If you have Red Angus cows, put a Charolais bull in with them and you'll more than likely get some nice yellow calves. Beware though, you may experience calving issues in your herd if you aren't careful about selecting for calving ease and birth weight in the Charolais bull of choice!
Which are most productive cows?
Those cows that are consistent in milk production, calving ease, fertility, mothering ability, etc. and are able to breed on time and produce a calf every year.
What is freshening a cow?
A cow that is very close to calving or which calving is imminent.
The act of giving birth of cattle is called what?
Calving or parturition.
Which is the best french cattle?
There is no best breed. The best French breed depends on what kind of qualities and characteristics you're looking for. The best french breed in terms of calving ease is Limousin, for instance.
