Page 13 - MWC 3-31-2022s
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THE IMPACT The Midwest Cattleman · March 31, 2022 · P13
continued from page 9 For example: Bull 2 should LIFE
five bulls used over the past raise weaning weights by 30 continued from page 5
pounds and mature weights
decade that sired our existing by 34 pounds. Bull 1 should
cowherd, and find the follow- sire daughters six percent born calves in our house. It forter and walk around a
ing EPDs specific to our selec- more likely to get pregnant fits perfectly between the little, so we moved the calf
tion goal: and raise oven and dishwasher in and comforter to the garage
a calf to our kitchen, and is directly for the rest of the night. The
wean - in front of a furnace vent. next morning, I returned
ing while Judy had the comforter bed the baby to its mother, and
lowering prepared when I arrived everyone lived happily ever
mature with the baby girl. after.
weight of The calf was wet on the Last week, Judy and I
cows by outside, cold on the inside, were watching an episode of
20 pounds. and unable to even open my favorite YouTube farm-
Neither its eyes. With the furnace er, in South Dakota, when
bull is ex- cranked up to high, Judy he was assisting a cold new-
pected to began rubbing the calf with born by placing it in a fac-
change the a series of old towels, while tory-made calf warmer. Not
milk level I fetched the hand-held knowing that such a device
of the cow- hair dryer, to blow hot air even existed, Judy enthusi-
herd. onto the calf-sicle, as quick- astically stated, “We need
Now we consider the genetic values of two T h e ly as possible. After a cou- one of those!”
new potential herd bulls. question is, ple of hours of EMT work, “I don’t think so; they
which bull by my wife and me, the cost around eight-hundred
transmits youngster opened its eyes, dollars, and we have a free
more prof- and we took that as a sign comforter.”
it poten- to provide nourishment. It
tial to this wasn’t able to suck, but the
operation? esophageal feeder provided
By comparing the EPDs Take some time to consider a quart of warm colostrum
of the new bulls we are con- the question. I will give my that seemed to be welcome.
sidering to the five bulls that answer next issue in part 2 on By bedtime, the calf was
sired our existing cowherd, this topic. able to stand on the com-
we can predict genetic change
expected in the next genera-
tion of cows in our operation.
SELECTING is low in the order of prior- weaning weight that is a
continued from page 7 Fertile and Productive ity of energy use. Thus, a product of a cow’s ability to
Generally, smaller birth Cows cow will milk to her genet- milk and mother her calf.
weights equal fewer assist- One of the most import- ic ability before cycling and
ed births. ant traits related to profit- getting pregnant. Milk is an Bull Milk EPDs
Bull 1’s calves should ability is a cow’s ability to expensive trait because of 1 +35
weigh 5.5 pounds more at get bred in a set breeding the additional energy need- 2 +20
birth than Bull 2’s calves. season. For a cow to start ed not only to lactate, but Difference +15
Bull 2’s calves should cycling (be in estrous), it has also have enough body con-
weigh 5.5 pounds less at to be in adequate condition. dition and energy reserves The calves born to Bull
birth than Bull 1’s calves, According to published re- to cycle and breed. 1’s daughters should weigh
search conducted by Short Milk EPDs do not predict 15 pounds more at weaning
et al., the following is the the daughter’s milk produc- than those of Bull 2.
Calving Ease Maternal priority use of energy by a tion. Milk EPDs predict a This estimated weight is
(CEM) cow: sire’s daughter’s milk and from the mother’s milk pro-
Bull CEM EPDs 1.Basal metabolism mothering ability as ex- duction.
1 +10 2.Grazing, other physical pressed in his daughters
2 +18 activities compared with daughters of
Difference -8 3.Growth other sires. In other words,
4.Supporting basic ener- it is that part of a calf’s
Comparatively, higher gy reserves
numbers mean daughters 5.Maintaining pregnancy
have more calving ease. 6.Milk production
Bull 1 should sire daugh- 7.Adding to energy re- “ ”
ters who are 8% less likely serves
to have their first calf unas- 8.Estrous cycling and ini-
sisted than Bull 2. tiating pregnancy
Bull 2 should sire daugh- 9.Storing excess energy
ters who are 8% more likely You’ll notice that cycling
to have their first calf unas- and establishing pregnancy
sisted than Bull 1.
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