Factor Affecting Calving Difficulty

Tennessee workers recently reported results of a study relating several factors to calving difficulty in heifers. In a group of 328 Angus and 112 Hereford heifers, calving difficulty was scored in relation to the heifer's own birthweight (HBWT),weaning weight (HWWT), weaning hip height (HWHT), yearling weight (HYWT), yearling hip height (HYHT), and yearling pelvic area (HYPA), along with calf birth weight (CBWT), and sire-of-calf birthweight EPD (SBEPD). CBWT was the most important determinant, accounting for about 20 % of the variation in calving difficulty in both breeds. In Angus heifers, SBEPD, HBWT, HWHT, and HYHT also were important. In Hereford, only SBEPD added to CBWT as a significant predictor. Selection of sires on birthweight EPD is the most effective means of reducing calving problems.

LMA Wants Beef Checkoff Vote

The Livestock Marketing Association, which collects the majority of money in the beef checkoff, has called for a vote of producers to see if the program is still desired. The LMA states that, in spite of nearly $1 billion in collections, demand for beef still declines. Also, they believe that checkoff dollars are spent primarily for the benefit of packers and retailers and that money is used to concentrate and integrate the industry, rather than to promote beef. A new referendum must be held by the USDA if as many as 10% of the nation's estimated 1.2 million producers sign petitions for a new vote. The LMA plans to circulate petitions and, if the checkoff is defeated, to "work towards finding a more workable program that meets the needs of all producers".

Body Condition Of Heifers At Calving VS Rebreeding Intervals

Missouri researchers have studied relationships of body condition at calving to rebreeding intervals in a set of Angus and Angus-cross first-calf heifers. Based on their findings, if heifers lose one body condition score (BCS) between calving and the start of breeding, then rebreeding intervals for various BCS at calving are predicted as follows: BCS 4 = 133 days; BCS 5 = 108 days; BCS 6 = 83 days. Maintaining BCS from calving to breeding, usually difficult and/or costly to accomplish, reduced rebreeding interval only 13 days. So, to maintain a 365-day interval, heifers should be at least BCS 6 at calving. Heifers in BCS 5 at calving could be kept on schedule if bred about three to four weeks before the breeding season begins for the rest of the herd.

Dollar Calves - Can They Last?

Two years ago a 500 lb calf might have brought 50 cents, when fed cattle were in the low 60's. Now fed cattle are about the same, but that calf could easily bring a dollar. Why? The biggest reason is that elevator corn cost close to $10/cwt back then, compared to about $5 now, and we've got fewer calves available. Feeders have been losing big money, so what can we expect? With an average or better corn crop, the Western Livestock Marketing Information Center projects fed cattle to be in the low 70's by the last quarter of the year. This should mean that calf prices this fall will average the highest since 1993, about where they are now or a little lower.