Easy calving percentage

blonde10 · 14-10-2018 07:31PM #1

Hi folks
What percentage of calving ease do ye look for for your heifers when choosing a bull.ive heifers to AI and im looking at bulls at the min..would ye class sub 5/6% as easy or would ye go lower..

Lady Haywire · 14-10-2018 07:37PM

Usually 5/6% here, EBY or THZ or Ulsan. Have used that BZC BB with CD of 6.9 on a few 2nd calvers so might chance first timers next year with him if they come small.

squinn2912 · 14-10-2018 07:44PM

Yea 5/6 for me too think our bull is about 6.5 but heifers have no bother with him. Granted though we try for ai wjth them so if it’s our own bull then they’re a bit older and stronger

simx · 14-10-2018 07:54PM

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Usually 5/6% here, EBY or THZ or Ulsan. Have used that BZC BB with CD of 6.9 on a few 2nd calvers so might chance first timers next year with him if they come small.

Eby 3.8
Ulsan 0.9
Thz 4.4%

3-4% on cont heifers seem to be the norm

Eby and lm2014 (3-4%) v popular

Lady Haywire · 14-10-2018 07:57PM

simx wrote: »

Eby 3.8
Ulsan 0.9
Thz 4.4%

3-4% on cont heifers seem to be the norm

Eby and lm2014 (3-4%) v popular

Kzh gets used too

Don't think i'll be using EBY again, calves are butty enough. Just a fine line between nice easy calving & a weed of a calf. THZ is a nice in between sort. Funnily enough I've never had a single issue with thz but 2/3 eby calves had problems.

Hard Knocks · 14-10-2018 08:02PM

Look at gestation length too
Shorter gestation = smaller calves

blonde10 · 14-10-2018 08:26PM

The heifers in question are bbXlm with a bit or a round end,so im looking to go lim or maybe a saler..any imputs on any of these bulls..

High bike · 14-10-2018 08:45PM

blonde10 wrote: »

The heifers in question are bbXlm with a bit or a round end,so im looking to go lim or maybe a saler..any imputs on any of these bulls..

Zag is an easy enough calver and sa2153 if you can get him

Dunedin · 14-10-2018 09:01PM

High bike wrote: »

Zag is an easy enough calver and sa2153 if you can get him

Have a few zag weanlings and they’re turning into butty cattle. Had intended to bull them next year but they’ll have to improve over the winter

tanko · 14-10-2018 09:40PM

blonde10 wrote: »

The heifers in question are bbXlm with a bit or a round end,so im looking to go lim or maybe a saler..any imputs on any of these bulls..

I think Salers are a great job for stress free calving on heifers especially when theres blue blood involved.
Ulsan from Dovea, Highfield Odran if available, Spiddal Pat or Knottown Roy from NCBC or VTA from Bova would be my choices.

charolais0153 · 14-10-2018 09:44PM

Give them a shorthorn and you could end up with some lovely roan stock

reps4 · 14-10-2018 10:02PM

Dunedin wrote: »

Have a few zag weanlings and they’re turning into butty cattle. Had intended to bull them next year but they’ll have to improve over the winter

Even though zag has all the stars and figures, are his offspring showing quality expected of same or is he another jumped up theory v practice mess from icbf.

patsy_mccabe · 14-10-2018 10:22PM

reps4 wrote: »

Even though zag has all the stars and figures, are his offspring showing quality expected of same or is he another jumped up theory v practice mess from icbf.

ICBF have ZAG in the bottom 12% of skeletal values (size of frame). They also have his carcass weight in the bottom 30%. In plain language - he breeds butty cattle.
NCBC advise using him only on big plainish cows.

tanko · 14-10-2018 10:25PM

reps4 wrote: »

Even though zag has all the stars and figures, are his offspring showing quality expected of same or is he another jumped up theory v practice mess from icbf.

Over 41,000 calves off him already, he's popular for good reason i think.
Hes not perfect but sure what bull is, some think hes too small but his calves have great muscle and shape and are easy finished.
Have two in calf heifers off him here, the milk side of him mightnt be hectic, time will tell.

simx · 14-10-2018 10:47PM

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Kzh gets used too Don't think i'll be using EBY again, calves are butty enough. Just a fine line between nice easy calving & a weed of a calf. THZ is a nice in between sort. Funnily enough I've never had a single issue with thz but 2/3 eby calves had problems.

Lm2014 seem to be growthier

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 12:18AM

simx wrote: »

Lm2014 seem to be growthier

Have you seen any pedigree calves by him? He has very good breeding behind him.

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 12:23AM

blonde10 wrote: »

The heifers in question are bbXlm with a bit or a round end,so im looking to go lim or maybe a saler..any imputs on any of these bulls..

Don't use zag if you have shape allreddy. He's a grand easy calving bull but can throw the odd monster when you have shape allreddy. Eby, or as your name suggests a blonde cross would be very nice.

blonde10 · 15-10-2018 06:55AM

Id love to put a blonde in them but im fearfull of the blue and the blonde muscle..dont get me wrong the blonde on a blue is imo a super cross great legnth along with shape..but for maidens i wouldnt chance it..i think the limousine side are coming from a bull called ""sympa " would i be rite in saying..i wouldnt know alot of names and pedigree.. so correct me if im wrong..

simx · 15-10-2018 08:49AM

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

Have you seen any pedigree calves by him? He has very good breeding behind him.

Yeah I have, were only 6-8 weeks old at the time but nice sorts

bogman_bass · 15-10-2018 10:31AM

For me I look for sub 4% for heifers. I calf most of mine at 2 years old. No point in breaking your heifers up. Still no shortage of bulls available at that CD

squinn2912 · 15-10-2018 11:16AM

If you're going for 2 years then sub 4% is a good idea. We let the heifers get a bit more size to them and aim to hit 27 mths some even as spring calves go into autumn calvers themselves if theyre the right one.

Seanhorse91 · 15-10-2018 03:38PM

charolais0153 wrote: »

Give them a shorthorn and you could end up with some lovely roan stock

What shorthorn bull would ye recommend for maidens? Or for replacement in general?

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 05:40PM

blonde10 wrote: »

Id love to put a blonde in them but im fearfull of the blue and the blonde muscle..dont get me wrong the blonde on a blue is imo a super cross great legnth along with shape..but for maidens i wouldnt chance it..i think the limousine side are coming from a bull called ""sympa " would i be rite in saying..i wouldnt know alot of names and pedigree.. so correct me if im wrong..

Bova have a nice lim bull for heifers that's a full french outcross to all the sympa etc. Laurel is his name. IV a few calving to him in January. Nice easy calving and will leave nice replacements.

patsy_mccabe · 15-10-2018 06:48PM

Have you ever used Gamin (zgm) or Excel from Bova? I was thinking of getting Gamin straws. Saw a good few nice bulls by him.

tanko · 15-10-2018 08:08PM

Never wrestle with pigs wrote: »

Bova have a nice lim bull for heifers that's a full french outcross to all the sympa etc. Laurel is his name. IV a few calving to him in January. Nice easy calving and will leave nice replacements.

He looks good alrite, have you tried their other new Lim Loyal on any cows??

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 10:28PM

tanko wrote: »

He looks good alrite, have you tried their other new Lim Loyal on any cows??

No haven't but he's supposed to be very good. Them lads know their stuff when it comes to french breed lims. It's their no 1 interest. IV seen plenty of excel Heifers and they are some of the most feminine sweet Heifers IV ever seen.

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 10:36PM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Have you ever used Gamin (zgm) or Excel from Bova? I was thinking of getting Gamin straws. Saw a good few nice bulls by him.

I've one gamin in the oven at the moment for January also. He brings superb muscle and length. Almost like red BB but with more height and better legs. No milk behind him though if you get a heifer. Probably better suited to a big framed girl.

Some of the best lim Heifers I've ever seen were by excel. Real smart feminine, long, tight gut types. I'm definitely going to use him a bit over the next few years. The lads are helpful and don't mind talking breeding and advising what might suit what better etc. I may have went for a look at their herd despercil sale to pick up one and brought home a few more lol.

Limofarmer · 15-10-2018 10:40PM

Loyal would the heifers bull . Laurel for cows . I have two heifers 2 year old calved down to loyal recently . Nice calves and not hard calved

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 10:43PM

Limofarmer wrote: »

Loyal would the heifers bull . Laurel for cows . I have two heifers 2 year old calved down to loyal recently . Nice calves and not hard calved

Sorry you are right I was getting mixed up with the two.

patsy_mccabe · 15-10-2018 10:48PM

I' be afraid to go to Bova myself.

I see the Ruan herd are having a dispersal sale next week too.

Never wrestle with pigs · 15-10-2018 11:03PM

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

I' be afraid to go to Bova myself.
I see the Ruan herd are having a dispersal sale next week too.

Was talking to him. Some nice breeding in that herd. I'd say a bit of value will be got.

Easy calving percentage

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