I think the dam is very important in which calves to leave intact and which to cut. To me fertility would be the biggest factor. Obviously a cow who calves ever 15 to 18 months would not be one to consider mutliplying. If the cow has large coke bottle teats, poor udder suspension, a really ugly unfeminine head, weak top, a really bad attitude, is a poor milker, or is a cow you have pulled several calves out of don't keep a bull out of her. Ideally a bull would only be kept from cows that were desirable both phenotypically and productionwise. Even in a terminal sire I want to see the dam. Structure, growth, etc are very heritable.
