Interpretation and Use of Calving Ease EPDs

by Andy D. Herring
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University

Calving ease (the opposite of calving difficulty or dystocia) is dependent upon several factors. The most obvious factor affecting calving ease is calf birth weight. But, a small heifer can calve without difficulty just as a very large heifer can experience calving difficulty as not only the calf size (as measured through birth weight), but the ratio of the calf size to the size of the pelvic opening is the most critical factor. Calves of the same birth weight may not be shaped the same; broadness of shoulders, degree of muscle expression, length of the calf, etc. may be very different across calves even when birth weight is similar. Calf size, particularly for first-calf heifers, explains most calving problems.

Research conducted over the years has provided much useful information to understand calving difficulty. In the 1970s at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center, the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) project was initiated to evaluate cattle breeds and sires bred to British females. Dystocia incidence across all sire breeds was reported to be 38.5 percent in two-year-old first-calf heifers, 13.3 percent in three-year-olds, and 7.4 percent in four- and five-year-old cows. Nix et al. (1998) studied 2,191 calving records from the Clemson University Beef Physiology Unit herd (1981-1993) and were analyzed to determine factors affecting malpresentation, mortality and dystocia. Only 20 (0.91 percent) of these calvings involved improper presentation of the calf. Among the 20 malpresentations, 14 were posterior, three were leg deviations, two were head deviations, and one was a breech birth. Overall, 94 percent of the births required no assistance; of the six percent of births that did require assistance, the vast majority was due to calf size. Calf size and female parity explained most of the dystocia.

Over the years, as breed associations recommended their members to collect birth weight records and eventually calculated birth weight EPDs, this provided breeders with tools to aid in reduction of dystocia. Dystocia is an added stress that increases postpartum anestrous, and this can be particularly harmful in first-calf heifers as they take longer to begin cycling after calving than older females even if no dystocia is experienced. Although birth weight EPD is useful in reducing incidences of dystocia, more precise measures of calving ease provide additional tools to breeders.

The Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births in the birth of progeny from that animal (as when bulls are bred to first-calf heifers), with higher values indicating greater calving ease. Comparison of the CED EPDs between two animals predicts the average difference in calving ease percentage by which the two progeny groups will differ when they are being born. The Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) EPD is expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births from daughters of the animal in question, again with a higher value indicating greater calving ease. If two bulls are being compared for CEM EPDs and are bred to heifers, the CEM EPDs will represent differences in expected calving ease percentage among the two sires’ groups of first-calf daughters. It predicts the average ease with which daughters will calve as first-calf heifers when compared to daughters of other animals in the breed.

The table below provides some EPD values on calving ease direct, birth weight and calving ease maternal from the IBBA fall 2012 genetic evaluation. Among active sires, the range in CED EPD goes from -14.2 on the low end to 13.0 at the top, a difference of 27.2 percent calving ease between these extremes with an average CED EPD of +5.2. These values were taken directly from the fall 2012 evaluation on the IBBA web site (except for the fictitious bull OMG ANONYMOUS 4321). The range in CEM EPDs is from -4.0 to 12.4 with an average of +7.2. The range and average for birth weight EPD is also shown.

 

EPD comparison on four bulls in the Brangus Fall 2012 Multibreed cattle evaluation
Bull	Calving Ease Direct	Birth Weight	Calving Ease Maternal
MC 661 JOHN WAYNE 535S9	11.9	-4.3	8.2
BRINKS BIG EASY 589F29	10.0	-5.7	5.5
OMG ANONYMOUS 4321	-9.0	6.5	-2.0
NMSU 94004	7.1	0.3	8.8
Average *	5.2	0.7	7.2
High*	13.0	8.3	12.4
Low*	-14.2	-7.9	-4.0
*Among active sires

The interpretation of calving ease EPDs is similar in concept to other trait EPDs, but the units are different. If the four bulls in the table were bred to a genetically similar set of heifers that were managed the same way in the same location, it is expected that calves of MC 661 JOHN WAYNE 535S9 would have 20.9 percent more calving ease (difference between 11.9 and -9.0) than calves sired by OMG ANONYMOUS 4321, calves sired by BRINKS BIG EASY 589F29 would have 19 percent more calving ease than calves sired by OMG ANONYMOUS 4321 (difference between 10.0 and -9.0), and calves sired by NMSU 94004 would have 16.1 percent more calving ease than calves sired by OMG ANONYMOUS 4321 (difference between 7.1 and -9.0). It can be seen that in general birth weight EPDs are related to CED EPDs, but this relationship is not exact. Among these bulls, although MC 661 JOHN WAYNE 535S9 is expected to sire calves with slightly more calving ease than BRINKS BIG EASY 589F29, BRINKS BIG EASY 589F29 is expected to sire calves slightly lighter in birth weight than MC 661 JOHN WAYNE 535S9.

The daughters of these four bulls (when all are bred to the genetically similar bulls and managed the same) would also be expected to express some differences in calving ease when they, in turn, are dams. Daughters of MC 661 JOHN WAYNE 535S9 would be expected to have calves with 10.2 percent more calving ease than daughters of OMG ANONYMOUS 4321 (8.2 minus -2.0); daughters of BRINKS BIG EASY 589F29 would have 7.5 percent more calving ease than daughters of OMG ANONYMOUS 4321 (5.5 minus -2.0), and daughters of NMSU 94004 would have 10.8 percent more calving ease than daughters of OMG ANONYMOUS 4321 (8.8 minus -2.0).

Use of calving ease EPDs can offer additional tools for Brangus breeders rather than only using birth weight EPD for control of dystocia, particularly in first-calf heifers. Incorporation of Calving Ease Direct EPD into breeding decisions is expected to give increased potential to reduce dystocia over birth weight EPD alone. No matter what location or expected market for calves produced, cattle breeders should always utilize balanced selection that considers reproduction and well as growth and size traits. Any trait or selection tool that provides increased potential for female fertility and calf survival should be economically advantageous.

This article was originally published in the 2012 November/December issue of the Brangus Journal.

DNA Information Empowers Informed Selection and Breeding Decisions

Source: Pfizer Animal Genetics

Technology helps producers speed up genetic progress.

Steve Densmore, manager at Circle X Land and Cattle Co., is a strong believer in DNA testing.

Selection and breeding decisions can affect the performance and profitability of a cow/calf operation for years to come. This is why Steve Densmore, who raises purebred Brangus cattle at Circle X Land and Cattle Co. in Bryan, Texas, uses genetic technology to help him make better decisions that also benefit his customers.

“We try to produce what commercial producers want,” Densmore says. “The genetic technologies we’ve acquired have allowed us to eliminate cattle that do not produce desirable traits and help us identify cattle that have traits that will continue to move our herd forward.”

Kent Andersen, Ph.D., associate director, Technical Services, Pfizer Animal Genetics, says the biggest advantage of DNA technology is the ability to make more-informed buying and breeding decisions.

“DNA technology is especially valuable when evaluating young, unproven seedstock,” Dr. Andersen says. “This information allows producers to make purchase decisions with greater assurance for important traits.”

To help accomplish their goals, producers are utilizing GENESTAR^® Molecular Value Predictions (MVP^®s). GENESTAR, a targeted-marker DNA test, provides producers with genomic information about key production traits in all breeds of beef cattle. Test results include MVPs for feed efficiency, marbling and tenderness. The reports also include percentile ranks, which are determined by benchmarking each animal against hundreds of its breed contemporaries in the Pfizer Animal Genetics database.

Commercial Brangus breeder J. Mack Bohn of Diamond JK Ranches believes DNA testing helps him improve his genetics and operation.

This information also is beneficial for commercial Brangus breeder J. Mack Bohn of Diamond JK Ranches in Cyril and Marlow, Okla., and Roark Ranches in Marlow, Amber and Cheyenne, Okla.

“Incorporating genetic technologies has not only allowed us to continue to create a great Brangus female, but it’s moved our steer program several notches above where it used to be,” Bohn says. “I’m able to look at a bull and know so much about him before I ever even consider putting him on a set of females, rather than finding out three or four years later if I made the right choice.”

GENESTAR MVPs are derived using a targeted marker panel for feed efficiency, marbling and tenderness.  GENESTAR features a Palatability Index, which combines information about tenderness (shear force) and marbling, and ranks animals according to described genomic merit for traits that impact tenderness, juiciness and flavor. What’s more, producers can use GENESTAR to identify animals that are homozygous or heterozygous for black or wild-type coat color.

This information empowers producers to select animals that will advance their herd and the goals of their breeding programs, Dr. Andersen says. They can use this information to:

• Select breeding stock that are more likely to transmit desired genetic merit for palatability traits, feed efficiency and coat color
• Identify animals with desired genetics for consumer satisfaction
• Make more-informed mating decisions
• Advance genetic progress

Bohn says DNA information helps make proactive changes rather than having to fix problems later.“DNA results tell us so much, and it doesn’t take years to gather this information — it’s there almost immediately,” Bohn says. “We’ve eliminated some herd sires that looked like great candidates visually and on paper but didn’t meet our standards based on the DNA information. This saves us from investing time and money and incorporating them into our program. And now that we’ve started incorporating GENESTAR into our females, it gives me a lot of confidence that I’m building a superior product.”

Dr. Andersen says that given today’s high input costs, it’s valuable for producers to take advantage of selection information derived from genomic technology.

“Genomic information can help take some of the guesswork out of seedstock selection and breeding decisions,” Dr. Andersen says. “Producers should talk with their seedstock suppliers about providing this information on sale cattle to help ensure they can make the most informed purchase decisions for their operations.”

All brands are the property of Pfizer Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. ©2012 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved.

Past President Spotlight- Ludwig Brand

The Past President Spotlight is a column we feature in our bi-monthly publication, the Brangus Journal. We hope you learn from these great leaders who have extensive experience and expertise in their respective fields.

Ludwig Brand
IBBA President 1980-1981

An article in the August 1983 issue of the Brangus Journal uses three words to describe Ludwig Brand- dedication, determination and enthusiasm.

This past IBBA president was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1933. His family moved to Poland where they were in the business of selling and exporting hides having offices in Houston and in Europe. Brand’s father was in the United States on business when World War II erupted. After weathering the war in Poland, Brand and his mother were able to join his father and move to the U.S. in 1949.

When Brand enrolled in the University of Houston at age 16, he took a full load of college courses during the day and studied and learned to speak English at night. Just after five years of living in the U.S., Brand received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry in 1954. Brand then served two years of active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard before returning to Houston to join the family’s cattle hide business, Southwestern Trading Company. In 1965, he bought the present ranch in Round Top, Texas, where Brand and his wife, Judy, continue to raise Brangus cattle.

Brand began using Brangus genetics after he purchased four Brangus bulls from Diamond M Ranch to breed his Hereford cows and has since been a devoted leader and avid supporter of the breed and the IBBA. Brand started his registered herd with a group of 25 heifers bred by Bud Adams Ranches and gradually grew his herd count and obtained more land. Brand and Judy hosted annual sales for approximately 12 years. They use proven genetics derived from their own breeding program and introduced new bloodlines from time to time. While concentrating on increasing weights at weaning and yearling, Brand said his goal is to produce a very consistent calf crop year after year.

Perhaps Brand’s biggest contribution to the breed was his integral role in organizing and leading the three fundraisers essential for establishing the IBBA headquarters building and preventing the association from incurring any debt. The Building Fund Drive and the Art Fund Drive alone generated $900,000 from Brangus breeders. Many breeders and IBBA members remember The Crowning Event in which Brand and Judy were instrumental in organizing that completely paid off the new building located on 5750 Epsilon in San Antonio, Texas. Ground breaking for the new building started April 11, 1985.

“People were willing to give something of themselves and wanted to further the breed,” said Brand in an article recorded in the August 1999 issue of the Brangus Journal. “IBBA members truly built this building. We had members in all phases who had expertise, and they gave their knowledge and time freely.”

Brand became an IBBA member in 1967 and has since fervently served the association, its members and the Brangus breed. He served on too many committees to mention and served as president of the Texas Brangus Breeders Association (TBBA). He was recognized as IBBA’s Breeder of the Year in 1983 and received the Pioneer Award in 2011. Brand was also an inductee into the Brangus Breeder Hall of Fame sponsored by the Heart of America Brangus Breeders Association.

With his longevity and experience in the industry, he recognizes the opportunity cattle producers are being provided and encourages Brangus breeders take initiative

“The future of the entire beef industry looks brighter than ever,” Brand said. “We have a rare situation when the inventory is the lowest it has been in some fifty years and the domestic demand and exports are increasing.”

He said the Brangus breed needs a unified effort, one voice and unselfish dedication to this great breed to make advancements in the industry.

Kodi the Cowdog- “Down Under”

Kodi the Cowdog stories are a monthly series based on a book titled, “Letters from Kodi, The Little Cowdog With The Wiggly Butt”. The book is written by Brangus producer and IBBA member Phyllis Clem, through the eyes of Kodi, a miniature Australian Shepherd.

Hi Y’all,

We recently had some visitors from ‘down under’ as they say. They were Brangus cattle breeders from Australia and were in the US visiting ranches and came by to see some of ‘my girls’ and visit with my folks. They sure were a nice bunch and liked the idea that I’m an Aussie too, even though I was born here in the states. You know my ancestors came from that continent several hundred years ago when boat loads of sheep came to the western coast of America along with their Basque sheep herders.  Actually I can trace my ancestor line further back than that , all the way to the country of Spain where the little dogs like me were called Spanish Shepherds. I don’t know if any of my relatives back then lived large like I do now, but I bet they were good at cattle and sheep work cause I sure have that trait running through my veins. I wonder what they looked like back then and if they were as cute as me? Did they have brown eyes or were theirs blue? Did they have black, shiny hair or was theirs more the blue merle type? Those are fun questions to ponder over. Do you know much about your ancestors? If so let me know where yours originated from.

Kodi is making sure the yearling bulls didn’t leave any feed

Looks like the calendar says that it’s springtime again. Course I didn’t have to look at a calendar to know, cause the crazy red birds are back at the windows fighting their own images. Those bird brains of theirs never let up when it comes to this annual ritual. It will go on for several weeks and then one day they’ll decide to get on with their nest building  projects and we’ll have some peace and quiet around here. That is until Mama Mockingbird hatches her young in their nest in the pecan tree by the deck. Then I’ll have to go into dive bomb mode until those younguns fly away and it’s safe to go in the backyard once again. This has been going on forever and I guess it will continue, but sometimes I get just plain tired of her tryng to poke my wiggly little butt with her sharp beak every time I get near that nest. Wouldn’t that get on your nerves too ?

Another way I know it’s springtime is all the yellow stuff that’s coating everything right now. Everytime I walk across the driveway I leave a trail of footprints behind me and if I lay down on the deck for a little rest, then I leave an imprint of my body. I understand some folks are allergic to the yellow stuff and I believe it cause everywhere I go it seems as if people are sneezing, blowing, coughing, etc. Even ‘my girls’ are sneezing some; their noses are yellow from grazing and I guess they get the stuff in their nostrils. When you look at Sug’s muzzle it’s yellow too and she does a lot of snorting. Even Mr.P has been “ah-chooing” some, but for some reason it doesn’t seem to bother me.   I guess I’m a lucky pup not to be bothered by the springtime allergies. My folks haven’t been bothered much by the pollen either, but Mama sure hates that it keeps her vehicle looking dirty all the time and you know what a neat freak she is. Soon enough everything will get through blooming and we’ll get a good rain and all will be normal again, that is until the next season of things to be allergic to.

2013 HLSR Brangus Show Results

This year marked the 47^th annual International Brangus Show in Houston, Texas. Jason Cleere, Associate Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at Texas A&M University, judged 144 entries at the bull and female shows on March 1 and 2, 2013.

RCC Patriot 1252Y came out of the summer bull division before claiming the Grand Champion Bull title. The July 2011 son of Doguets Hercules 88S3 is owned and exhibited by Stephen Roop of Grapevine, Texas. Sunnybrook Farms of Jackson, Miss., exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Bull, SBR Coal Mine 129UZ, a March 2012 son of SBR Coal Train 222WR. In the red Brangus show, Trio Cattle and Genetics of Madisonville, Texas, swept the two top honors. Coming from the yearling bull division, Trio’s Yucatan 175Y took the Grand Champion Red Bull title. The bull is a January 2011 son of Trio’s Sequoia 112S. Trio’s RLN Zoltar 175Z2 came out of the junior bull calf division to claim Reserve Champion honors. Zoltar is a March 2012 son of Lazy 3 Statesman 100S.

In the Cow-Calf Show, Marvel Farms of High Springs, Fla., claimed the Champion Cow-Calf Pair honor with Marvel’s Sweetpea 7/10. The February 2010 cow is a daughter of Marvel’s Red Gator 2/6 and had a January 2013 bull calf at side, Marvel’s Red Pride 5/13.

In the female show, DDD Ms Barbara 804Y61 took top honors as Grand Champion female. Coming out of the senior heifer calf division, the November 2011 daughter out of Doguet’s Hercules 88S3, is owned by Doguet Diamond D Ranch of McCoy, Texas. DDD Ms Chariti 88Z10 came from the junior heifer calf division and took the Reserve Grand Champion title. The May 2012 heifer is a daughter of DDD Masterplan 1019W10 and was exhibited by Johnston Cattle Company of Waxahachie, Texas. Grand Champion Red Brangus Female honors went to Trio’s Yelena 175Y3 owned and exhibited by Trio Cattle and Genetics. Winning the summer heifer division, the May 2011 heifer is a daughter of CX Tanque 23/T. From the summer heifer calf division, Dos XX’s Stretch’s Jewel took the title of Reserve Grand Champion Red Brangus Female. Sired by Dos XX’s Chief’s Mr Stretch, the October 2011 heifer is owned by Dos XX’s Cattle Company of Washington, Texas.

Visit http://www.Gobrangus.com/videofeed to watch more videos from IBBA.

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Why I Import U.S. Brangus Genetics

A fifth generation producer from Argentina, Carlos Ojea Rullan and his family have been involved in the cattle business since 1878. One of the world’s most prestigious cattleman, Ojea has chosen the Brangus breed as a personal investment. In 2010, he started a new cattle company, and after much research, decided that Brangus was the best option for his new operation.

Ojea manages or consults 17 other cattle companies as well as his own family’s operations. In the last 20 years, these ranches have collectively obtained the world record of 124 Grand Champions, Reserve Grand Champions and Third Best bull or female titles in the prestigious global Palermo Show in the Angus, Brangus, Hereford, Braford and Shorthorn breeds.

Ojea has also served as a respectable judge in numerous show rings around the world. In the last six years, he has judged 18 of the most prestigious shows in for the Brangus, Angus, Hereford and Braford breeds. Having judged shows in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Colombia, his extensive experience and knowledge makes him one of the most demanded judges in the world.

“I have been involved in the cattle business for 35 years, more than 70 percent of my lifetime,” Ojea said.

Ojea said there were very few things in his life as a cattleman that have impressed him more than the Brangus breed.

“The breed’s versatility and ability to adapt to any kind of land and limitations in the Northern Argentina’s hot subtropical climate really caught my eye since the beginning,” Ojea said. “This part of our country has high temperatures that rise up to 50 degrees Celsius with all the insects and forage limitations that these conditions generate.”

In recent years, Northern Argentina has been showing an amazing increase in numbers and quality of cattle. Ojea recognizes the Brangus breed as one of the contributors of this genetic improvement.

“Because of this phenomenon, the demand of quality bulls and heifers is increasing every year with more breeders getting involved,” Ojea said. “We put a lot emphasis on selecting Brangus that will work in the real world.”

Ojea said producers select for longevity, functionality, productivity, fertility and need to have the capacity to produce good quality meat in subtropical weather conditions. He said their commercial breeders put a lot of weight on phenotype and demonstrate functionality and beef production in one package. “That means moderate frame, thick, deep and powerful bodies as well as short hair,” Ojea said.

“We have been using some American Brangus genetics, both black and red,” Ojea said. “When we look for an American Brangus bulls, we try to find open pedigrees, good EPDs, fundamentally moderate frame and powerful phenotype that will adapt appropriately to our environment. These kinds of American genetics have been very helpful in our advancement in quality.”

Ojea is regarded as one of the most renowned cattlemen of our time, and is well known for his leadership and advancements made in the industry for improving genetic quality.

Brangus Association Members Pass Bylaw Change

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) membership voted recently to pass the bylaw change pertaining to Ultrablack and Ultrared cattle by a 70 percent margin. After much debate and discussion, votes were cast to pass the amendment allowing IBBA members to breed up to Brangus utilizing Ultrablack and Ultrared animals.

“This initiative will allow the incorporation of new Angus genetics into the Brangus population by an alternate method compared to the traditional process starting with Angus and Brahman as the first cross,” said Dale Kirkham, a member of the IBBA’s Breed Improvement Committee, in the December 2012 issue of the Brangus Journal.

Like the traditional Angus x Brahman approach, using Ultrablacks to breed up to Brangus will require three crosses to reach purebred status. Offspring of the first cross Ultrablacks (Angus x Brangus) mated back to Brangus (Ultrablack x Brangus) are genetically 3/4 Brangus. When these individuals are mated back to Brangus (3/4 Brangus x Brangus), their calves will be 7/8 Brangus and considered purebred Brangus. According to the amendment to Section I of Article V in the IBBA Bylaws, those animals will now be eligible for registration in the IBBA registry database.

Members were allowed to vote by mail-in ballot until December 31, 2012, and in person at the IBBA business meeting Friday March 1, 2013. For more information, visit IBBA’s website at www.GoBrangus.com.