Department of Animal Science
Date of this Version
1970
Citation
1970 is an approximate date
Abstract
Several trends in cattle production and marketing are becoming evident. Leaner and perhaps heavier muscled slaughter cattle will be in demand through the chain from consumers back through retailers, packers, feeders and finally the producers. Emphasis on growth in the feedlot will continue. Thus, the feedlot and carcass characteristics desired point towards fairly large, heavier muscled cattle. At the producer level, increased emphasis is being placed on matching cow size, milk level, and overall biological type to available resources. Thus, the trend for maternal herds in the Great Plains point towards an adapted, probably moderate size, and milking cow that excells in reproduction. Various forms of crossbreeding will be the major breeding system. The combination of these trends will encourage the greater use of terminal sires crossed on smaller, adapted cow herds. Thus, calving ease will continue to be of great importance. Given the above scenario, difference (EPD) values for replacements) versus terminal may be quite different. the breeding values or expected progeny sires needed for maternal (female (slaughter progeny) biological types This presentation wi 11 discuss some of genetic aspects of factors affecting calving ease. Specifically, we will look at birth weight, gestation length and pelvic measures along with calving ease score.