Managing cows for calving

With the possibility of another drier-than-average summer across northern NSW, and fewer spring calves on the ground as a result of last season's hard conditions, good management of first-calvers is in the spotlight.

While high birthweight is a major contributor to calving difficulties, there are other factors that come into play, including the heifer's development, the nutritional program they have been on and their condition at calving, beef experts say.

Producers have also been urged not to fall into the trap of believing bulls selected purely from physical attributes will provide a safeguard.

Beef consultants Bill Hoffman, Casino, and Alastair Rayner, Tamworth, said there was no easy solution to calving difficulties, particularly in British breed heifers, and it was a balance between getting genetics and management right.

"Buying so-called heifer bulls can be a dangerous practice if not done correctly," Mr Hoffman said.

"Estimated breeding values (EBVs) for birthweight and calving ease are a useful predictor of a bull's genetics and the likely outcomes in regards to (the bull's) progeny.

"It is important, though, to remember EBV accuracy on young bulls will be relatively low so the EBV value may change in time."

Mr Hoffman said basing selection on a young bull's physical size and appearance can also lead to wrong choices.

"A young bull may look small but that may just be a result of the nutritional regime he was raised in and have no relationship with his genetics for birthweight," he said.

"There is also the breed effect to take into account. In general, joining European or Brahman bulls to British breed heifers will escalate the chances of calving difficulties due to high birthweights."

Mr Rayner said 80 per cent of those in the market for a bull he had spoken with this season were looking for one specifically to join to heifers.

Season aside, there seemed to be a longer-term trend towards a greater focus on reducing the losses associated with calving difficulties, according to Mr Rayner.

"After all, the number of calves that can be safely born and then grown on to meet sale weights or joining weight does directly impact on your enterprise's profitability," he said.

"Many producers this season took the opportunity to upgrade their genetics given the good value in the bull market and wanted a bull that could be used throughout the entire herd."

Along with getting the right bull, good heifer management was crucial, the consultants said.

Adequate condition score pre-calving is important - the ideal fat score (FS) is 3 to 3.5.

Mr Hoffman said low condition (FS 2) could result in a weak labour, while a high FS of five-plus could result in high birthweights, excess internal fat deposits and poor muscle tone.

"Adequate liveweight at calving is also important - a guide is 80 to 85pc of mature liveweight," he said.

Mr Rayner said supplementary feeding heifers in tight seasons could increase the growth of the calf, rather than the condition of the mother.

"It's not just about feeding but understanding what you are trying to achieve - the nutrition program heifers are on has to be strategic," he said.

North Coast Local Land Services livestock officer Nathan Jennings, Alstonville, said maintaining a moderate rate of growth, about half a kilogram a day, throughout the pregnancy enabled heifers to maintain suitable condition.

Many coastal producers decided against joining heifers last season because acceptable weights could not be achieved, he said.

Sweeping generalisations about when was the best time to join heifers were also dangerous, as the pros and cons of all options had to be weighed up in relation to the individual enterprise, Mr Rayner said.

Calving difficulty is essentially a problem of first-calvers, irrespective of whether they calve at two or three years of age, according to government livestock advice from each State's Department of Primary Industries.

Some producers say more difficulty was in fact experienced by heifers at three years because they tended to become too fat.

Joining heifers earlier than the cow mob could be an effective strategy to give them the attention they need at calving and additional time to recover, Mr Rayner said.

"This will also let you put them onto a targeted management program to ensure they are well fed and can care for their calves properly."

FOR Casino district veal producers Trevor and Maryann Hoffman, and daughter Jacqui Reichmann, ease of calving is given high priority in the list of traits sought at bull buying time.

The beef producers run mostly Angus breeders at "Woodview", Tomki, and maintain calving rates above 98 per cent.

Making certain heifer condition is kept at optimum levels by keeping stocking levels sensible and supplementing where necessary, along with investing in bulls bred for both low birthweight and veal production is the key, Mr Hoffman said.

"We need a bull that puts muscle and growth into our calves but that doesn't mean we can't also have the production benefits," he said.

"It's important to be chasing more muscle to help vealers achieve better prices but you just can't afford to lose a calf."

Their latest purchase, Coolarmagh 129H, from Russell and Cheryl Connor's Coolarmagh Angus stud near Grafton, was bred specifically for those traits.

The Connors have not pulled a calf in their herd for more than 20 years.