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Correlation between calf weight and cow longevity?
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<blockquote data-quote="regolith" data-source="post: 623834" data-attributes="member: 9267"><p>I don't know about calvings in the beef world, but I know for sure that the group of dairy heifers bred to a low birthweight bull are going to live on average much much longer than the group of heifers bred to a high birthweight bull.</p><p></p><p>A large number of the heifers bred to an over-sized bull won't get back in calf (not sure of the exact stats, but I've assisted up to 40% of calvings in groups like these, and I think about half the assisted heifers get back in calf no problem and half become repeat breeders - the repeat breeders are very likely to be culled as two or three year olds).</p><p></p><p>Once they're three years old, I shouldn't imagine it makes much difference unless the birthweight is extreme. And the consequence of repeat breeding is exacerbated in a seasonal calving system - if my cows don't get in calf within three cycles they're out, and if they're late calvers and they don't get in calf in one or two cycles they're out. Late calvers stay late calvers unless they're very fertile.</p><p></p><p>I'll throw out one other speculation. Older cows may be more susceptible to calving difficulty. I breed mine (older than 10) as for heifers, just in case.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="regolith, post: 623834, member: 9267"] I don't know about calvings in the beef world, but I know for sure that the group of dairy heifers bred to a low birthweight bull are going to live on average much much longer than the group of heifers bred to a high birthweight bull. A large number of the heifers bred to an over-sized bull won't get back in calf (not sure of the exact stats, but I've assisted up to 40% of calvings in groups like these, and I think about half the assisted heifers get back in calf no problem and half become repeat breeders - the repeat breeders are very likely to be culled as two or three year olds). Once they're three years old, I shouldn't imagine it makes much difference unless the birthweight is extreme. And the consequence of repeat breeding is exacerbated in a seasonal calving system - if my cows don't get in calf within three cycles they're out, and if they're late calvers and they don't get in calf in one or two cycles they're out. Late calvers stay late calvers unless they're very fertile. I'll throw out one other speculation. Older cows may be more susceptible to calving difficulty. I breed mine (older than 10) as for heifers, just in case. [/QUOTE]
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Correlation between calf weight and cow longevity?
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