Repeatability of Calving Difficulty
Calving difficulty in heifers has a profound effect on their productivity.
Many producers are looking back through their calving books to re-examine the most recent calving season and determine if improvements can be made between now and next spring. At a recent Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension event, a cow-calf producer asked the time-honored question, “If a heifer has calving difficulty this year, what is the likelihood that she will have trouble again next year?”
A look back through the scientific literature sheds some light on this subject. Research conducted by Colorado State University (CSU) and published in 1973 looked at parturition records of 2,733 Hereford calves sired by 123 bulls and born to 778 cows/heifers. (Source: Brinks, et al., Journal of Animal Science, 1973:Vol. 36, pp. 11-17). A repeatability estimate of 4.5% was obtained from heifers calving both as 2- and 3-year-olds. Of 195 heifers that had no difficulty in calving at 2 years of age, 7.2% had difficulty as 3-year-olds. Of the 77 2-year-old heifers that experienced calving difficulty, 11.7% had difficulty again as 3-year-olds.
Heifers that experienced calving difficulty as 2-year-olds weaned 59% of calves born; whereas, those having no difficulty weaned 70% of calves born. Calving difficulty as 2-year-olds affected the number of calves weaned when 3 years of age and also the weaning weight of those calves. Heifers having calving difficulty as 2-year-olds weaned a 63% calf crop as 3-year-olds. Heifers having no difficulty as 2-year-olds weaned a 77% calf crop as 3-year-olds.
From this research we learned that calving difficulty as a 2-year-old has a profound effect on productivity. The likelihood that calving difficulty will happen again next year is only slightly greater than in heifer counterparts that calved unassisted this year.
Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted with permission from the June 2, 2014, OSU Extension newsletter Cow-Calf Corner.