Nobody likes pulling calves, not to mention the loss in calf and cow performance or possible death due to dystocia. Selecting the right genetics for a successful calving season occurs the year prior. If you find yourself pulling a good number of calves, it is time to take a step back and look at the genetics of your herd.
Three EPDs to focus on for a successful calving season are calving ease direct (CED), calving ease maternal (CEM), and to a lesser degree birth weight (BW).
Calving ease is derived from calving difficulty, or…
