The mothering ability of a cow is a term that means how fast that cow (or even heifer) is able to bond with her calf and accept that calf once born. It is a term that encompasses the protective ability and maternal instincts that a cow should have upon having her calf, and is a term that is used in regards to beef breeding herds. A cow with strong mothering ability is a cow worth keeping, but a cow that is protective over her calf towards people is one to be very careful about.
A pig has good mothering abilities. She has a strong bond with her children. She provides excellent care for them starting even before they are born.
Guernseys should be fairly good mothers, a little better than Holsteins or Jerseys are.
nursing and birth
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.
Brahmans are known for their great mothering ability, yes.
Mothering ability for Limousins is average. But that depends on the lineage: some blood lines are better mothers than others. Even so, if your Limousins are poor mothers you can always cull out those cows that have poorer mothering ability than what you want.
Yes. In addition with having great convertability on grass, they also have good mothering ability not to mention an ability to raise some good calves.
To improve genetics in the herd, from things like better milking ability and quantity (for dairy herds) to other things like better carcass characteristics in calves, better mothering ability, calving ease, docility, etc. in beef cattle/cows.
A cow is analyzed by her conformation, her milking ability, mothering ability, calving ease, and her ability to wean a good-sized calf. The history of the calves she raised or that have grown into cows are also analyzed. Then the producer makes a decision of what kind of bull to use on her to improve her progeny that may replace her in the future. Bulls are selected based on their EPDs and their conformational qualities that should be better than hers. The calf that she produces should be one that has superior characteristics to her own, making it one that will be better for producing future generations.
Yes they are. Herefords are often raised in an extensive setting, and in such a setting good mothering ability is a must since a lot of the time the owner or rancher isn't around to make sure the calf mothers up to its new mom or the cow accepts her calf.
Holsteins have little, if any, mothering ability. They're bred to produce mass quantities of milk for human consumption, not to protect and raise a calf.
The most important one is fertility. Second most important is mothering ability; third, milking ability.
All kinds, actually. Beef and dairy cows, beef steers and heifers, beef and dairy bulls (young and old), and freemartin heifers of either dairy or beef breeding. Primarily, though, beef steers, young bulls (on occasion, though), and beef heifers unsuited for the breeding herd due to factors like temperament, comformation, size/weight, mothering ability, etc., are in feedlots on a "finishing" ration for three to four months prior to slaughter.
The mothering ability of a cow is a term that means how fast that cow (or even heifer) is able to bond with her calf and accept that calf once born. It is a term that encompasses the protective ability and maternal instincts that a cow should have upon having her calf, and is a term that is used in regards to beef breeding herds. A cow with strong mothering ability is a cow worth keeping, but a cow that is protective over her calf towards people is one to be very careful about.
Mothering - magazine - was created in 1976.