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Breeding / Calving Issues
what happened to the calving ease?
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<blockquote data-quote="[Bez]" data-source="post: 721973" data-attributes="member: 13607"><p>Quite frankly I think a large number of folks on this board like to talk about EPDs rather than think about breeding.</p><p></p><p>Continual small calves at birth reduces the size of the cow over generations.</p><p></p><p>Weight of the calf is far less important than shape of the calf at birth.</p><p></p><p>Cannot believe how many people blame the bull when they seem to ignore the other half of the equation - yet they are out and out EPD experts on paper - or CT computer screens. We will see it again next week and the week after and the week after and the week after - and truthfully a lot of blame is to be placed on the EPD experts here who do not emphasize the entire breeding equation - EPD is a small part and I do not care what any self proclaimed expert here states - it is a whole picture that needs to be looked at.</p><p></p><p>If you breed a calf that turns into a cow that can handle a decent calf and throw away those that cannot - you lessen the calving problems. Far too many here keep everything - or at least most of the females - when in fact probably less than 30% of them deserve to be held over for breeding. In all honesty that number is way too high as well but there will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the hobby guys and the "I love my pet cow" folks if I say that only 10% deserve to be kept. And even that number may be high in some years.</p><p></p><p>I do not care how sweet or pretty she is - fatten her and kill her if she is a liability. Do not sell her as a breeder - but many here will because they really believe they have a wonderful "registered" product to sell. Seen that here on a regular basis and we will continue to see it on almost a daily basis - and yes folks papers are important - especially if you want to sell that heifer to another newbie. (Sarcaasm) </p><p></p><p>While it is not ideal - if a <u>cow</u> cannot handle a 100 pound or a bit better calf she is trouble - and would not stay in my herd and sure as HE!! should not be in yours either. So you need to cull a lot more and breed a bit more responsibly unless you buy in your replacements.</p><p></p><p>If a heifer cannot calve out a calf that comes close to this - she is trouble. She should either have not been bred when she was, or not been bred period. Try weighing the calves - with a scale and not a tape - most folks screw up tape weights - a scale if calibrated does not lie. A lot of heavy weight calves are born on grass and are born with no probs because people - thank heavens - in some parts of the world are not EPD slaves.</p><p></p><p>If you breed for weight using EPD info and nothing more - YOU are the cause of most of your trouble.</p><p></p><p>You want push button cows? Think more on <u>all the above</u> and spend a little less time on the bull and his EPDs.</p><p></p><p>[Bez]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="[Bez], post: 721973, member: 13607"] Quite frankly I think a large number of folks on this board like to talk about EPDs rather than think about breeding. Continual small calves at birth reduces the size of the cow over generations. Weight of the calf is far less important than shape of the calf at birth. Cannot believe how many people blame the bull when they seem to ignore the other half of the equation - yet they are out and out EPD experts on paper - or CT computer screens. We will see it again next week and the week after and the week after and the week after - and truthfully a lot of blame is to be placed on the EPD experts here who do not emphasize the entire breeding equation - EPD is a small part and I do not care what any self proclaimed expert here states - it is a whole picture that needs to be looked at. If you breed a calf that turns into a cow that can handle a decent calf and throw away those that cannot - you lessen the calving problems. Far too many here keep everything - or at least most of the females - when in fact probably less than 30% of them deserve to be held over for breeding. In all honesty that number is way too high as well but there will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the hobby guys and the "I love my pet cow" folks if I say that only 10% deserve to be kept. And even that number may be high in some years. I do not care how sweet or pretty she is - fatten her and kill her if she is a liability. Do not sell her as a breeder - but many here will because they really believe they have a wonderful "registered" product to sell. Seen that here on a regular basis and we will continue to see it on almost a daily basis - and yes folks papers are important - especially if you want to sell that heifer to another newbie. (Sarcaasm) While it is not ideal - if a [u]cow[/u] cannot handle a 100 pound or a bit better calf she is trouble - and would not stay in my herd and sure as HE!! should not be in yours either. So you need to cull a lot more and breed a bit more responsibly unless you buy in your replacements. If a heifer cannot calve out a calf that comes close to this - she is trouble. She should either have not been bred when she was, or not been bred period. Try weighing the calves - with a scale and not a tape - most folks screw up tape weights - a scale if calibrated does not lie. A lot of heavy weight calves are born on grass and are born with no probs because people - thank heavens - in some parts of the world are not EPD slaves. If you breed for weight using EPD info and nothing more - YOU are the cause of most of your trouble. You want push button cows? Think more on [u]all the above[/u] and spend a little less time on the bull and his EPDs. [Bez] [/QUOTE]
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what happened to the calving ease?
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