I don't understand the need to go outside your normal breed or breeds to achieve calving ease. To me, either you are raising totally the wrong breed for your management/environment or after years of trying to breed to "super" ce bulls, you are developing heifers that are too small.
Right up front - I am not bashing any breeds. There is a purpose for all breeds (well, some people THINK there is).
I hear people comment about using a LH or mini or lowline to breed to their heifers for CE. To me, that is going backwards. I think heifers should be "expected" to breed at a young age & calve unassisted, bred to a bull of the same breed, if I have done my job. Or a different breed if you are purposely crossbreeding. But, to use a bull that is going to give you a little calf that is never going to get as heavy as the dam, confuseses me.
This goes back to the REAL reason you are breeding your heifers------ to have something BIG to sell year 1 or to get her in the rotation of becoming a brood cow--- someday. This takes time (maturity)
To me, it's difficult enough for a heifer to "pay her own way", but when you don't give her a chance to raise you a growthy calf, you're going to go in the hole financially.
I know, I know, a small live calf is worth more than a large dead calf. But, I breed Simmental cattle and I cannot remember the last time we lost a calf from dystocia. It's hard enough to remember having a difficult pull - other than tangled up messes (TWINS for example). I am not saying we have not had some assists - but, they were probably not "necessary" to get a live calf out - just helps the dam come back into heat sooner if she doesn't have to work so hard.
If you do your homework and raise out your heifers, and breed to CE bulls with normal growth for your breed, you should be fine and the heifer should make you money even with a steer calf.
What am I missing?
Out of curiosity, I just checked my last 2 years calf crop report. Out of a little under 100 head, we had 2 easy hand pulls (heifers) and 1 easy hand pull set of twins (after adjusting positions).