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Breeding / Calving Issues
Gestation Length too short?
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<blockquote data-quote="simme" data-source="post: 1747188" data-attributes="member: 40418"><p>Thanks. Keep in mind that these calves are fall born (late Sept, early Oct so end of summer) in the south. I expect they would be higher birth weight if they were late winter/spring born or born further north. Cows are on endophyte fescue pasture which I suspect holds the birth weight back as well. I don't necessarily select for low birth weight, but to select against low bw limits the choices on available bulls these days. All my calves are AI sired. EPD's for birth weight on the cows are mostly breed average or higher but are trending down with the younger cows due to bull selection. I would be pleased if I could keep the birth weights in the 75 to 85 pound range for fall calves.</p><p></p><p>In regard to the weaning weights, I try to stay understocked. That means most of the year, I have plenty of grass. Since I AI breed, I try to increase my chances of getting them bred. My hay is purchased and is usually not good quality. I have read that an increasing level of nutrition will increase AI results for conception and early retention. Generally breed around New Years weekend, so increasing nutrition won't happen on hay alone. I feed a little commodity feed starting about 4-6 weeks prior to breeding and continuing for about 6 weeks after. Each pair gets about 3 pounds per day. I suspect the cow gets most of that. My cows are pretty good milkers. Not a lot of feed, but I am sure it contributes to the weaning weight. That's the full disclosure on weights.</p><p></p><p>I only have a few cows and any replacements come from my calves. So, I need to keep buying semen on bulls I have not used or at least not used recently. That is sort of a gamble. That pair of 3 year olds pictured suit me pretty good. Except for udder and feet, which are pretty important. They are not real bad, but at 3 years old should be better than they are. They are sired by Hooks Yellowstone - a bull that has at least one son in AI stud and has seen pretty good AI use himself. That bull has a pretty balanced set of EPD's except for STAY (longevity of daughters). That epd was ok when I first used him when he was about 6 years old. But is now in the bottom 20% of the breed - I suspect due to feet and udders. Data for "longevity of daughters" is going to start showing up when a bull is about 6 to 8 years old as daughters come into production and get a little age on them. I noticed in an ad for one of his sons a statement that the son's dam had a tidy udder with small teats. I guess this is a subtle way of hoping that his son did not inherit the udder quality from his sire. Point is that it is difficult to keep all traits in check and a constant struggle to make progress.</p><p></p><p>Cattle in the south can have those weaning weights. I think it is more about genetics, consistency and management than location. We are held back some by heat and humidity, but probably hold ourselves back some as well with other issues. I only have a few cows for my retirement hobby. Sample size and management are probably not in synch with most.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="simme, post: 1747188, member: 40418"] Thanks. Keep in mind that these calves are fall born (late Sept, early Oct so end of summer) in the south. I expect they would be higher birth weight if they were late winter/spring born or born further north. Cows are on endophyte fescue pasture which I suspect holds the birth weight back as well. I don't necessarily select for low birth weight, but to select against low bw limits the choices on available bulls these days. All my calves are AI sired. EPD's for birth weight on the cows are mostly breed average or higher but are trending down with the younger cows due to bull selection. I would be pleased if I could keep the birth weights in the 75 to 85 pound range for fall calves. In regard to the weaning weights, I try to stay understocked. That means most of the year, I have plenty of grass. Since I AI breed, I try to increase my chances of getting them bred. My hay is purchased and is usually not good quality. I have read that an increasing level of nutrition will increase AI results for conception and early retention. Generally breed around New Years weekend, so increasing nutrition won't happen on hay alone. I feed a little commodity feed starting about 4-6 weeks prior to breeding and continuing for about 6 weeks after. Each pair gets about 3 pounds per day. I suspect the cow gets most of that. My cows are pretty good milkers. Not a lot of feed, but I am sure it contributes to the weaning weight. That's the full disclosure on weights. I only have a few cows and any replacements come from my calves. So, I need to keep buying semen on bulls I have not used or at least not used recently. That is sort of a gamble. That pair of 3 year olds pictured suit me pretty good. Except for udder and feet, which are pretty important. They are not real bad, but at 3 years old should be better than they are. They are sired by Hooks Yellowstone - a bull that has at least one son in AI stud and has seen pretty good AI use himself. That bull has a pretty balanced set of EPD's except for STAY (longevity of daughters). That epd was ok when I first used him when he was about 6 years old. But is now in the bottom 20% of the breed - I suspect due to feet and udders. Data for "longevity of daughters" is going to start showing up when a bull is about 6 to 8 years old as daughters come into production and get a little age on them. I noticed in an ad for one of his sons a statement that the son's dam had a tidy udder with small teats. I guess this is a subtle way of hoping that his son did not inherit the udder quality from his sire. Point is that it is difficult to keep all traits in check and a constant struggle to make progress. Cattle in the south can have those weaning weights. I think it is more about genetics, consistency and management than location. We are held back some by heat and humidity, but probably hold ourselves back some as well with other issues. I only have a few cows for my retirement hobby. Sample size and management are probably not in synch with most. [/QUOTE]
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