03/02/05 Calving ease

Calving Ease Data There are some new numbers to look at when selecting calving ease sires. I'm Jeff Keane and I'll tell you about them in one minute. The American Angus Association has added two new calving ease indicators to its Spring 2005 Sire Evaluation Report. Angus genetics, on the average, have historically provided calving ease opportunities to cattlemen. With just a few exceptions, more Angus bulls are used for siring first calf heifer's calves than any other breed. Now the Angus Association has added calving ease direct (CED) and calving ease maternal (CEM) to estimated progeny differences for selecting a calving ease bull. Anyone checking heifers at 2:00 A.M. appreciates any help or edge to get heifers to calve on their own. Calving ease direct will estimate differences between sires for ease of calving when bred to first calf heifers. CED is calculated on calving score and birth weight. Calving score is just a number of 1 to 5 assigned to describe the calving process with 1 being the easiest calving where no assistance was needed. Calving ease maternal is a measurement of calving ease differences of first calf heifers from different sires. So producers keeping replacement heifers would try to select a bull with a high CEM number. These two evaluations will help fine tune selection of bulls to breed to first calf heifers and bulls to sire easy calving cows. That should mean more sleep during calving season and that's a good thing. I'm Jeff Keane. Angus Beef Bulletin January 2005