Sire selection, natural service or AI is critical. Over time, 90% of genetic change is the result of sire selection. Your bull (or bulls) contribute more to the genetic makeup of your herd in a calving season than a cow does in her lifetime. Effective sire selection should be based on genetic values in the form of EPDs. Selection on EPDs is 7 – 9 times more effective than selection based on individual performance data, within herd ratios or performance testing because all this information (plus more) is taken into consideration in calculating EPDs. Selecting genetically superior sires is the fastest approach to herd improvement and bottom-line profitability when you select genetic superiority that matches your management, production and marketing system.
If you are identifying bulls to breed heifers this spring and calving ease is a priority, current sexing technology can work to your advantage. Research shows that heifer calves are, on average, approximately five pounds lighter than bull calves at birth. The lighter birth weights will equate to less likelihood of dystocia. If sexed heifer semen is your preferred path to calving ease, expect to pay a little more (approximately $20/straw) per unit than typical of conventional semen. As well, timing of AI should also be delayed by six to 12 hours if using sexed semen.
Charting the genetic trend of beef breeds indicates purebred cattle breeders have been very successful over the past 30 years of applying selection pressure to maintain calving ease while improving the additive genetic merit for weaning and yearling weight performance. What we commonly refer to as “curve benders” are easier to find than ever, especially when sorting through bull stud offerings of potential AI sires.
So to answer the questions in the title, yes it is possible. With ample calving ease sires available in the current marketplace, you should still be able to identify sires that give you the growth, carcass merit or levels of maternal performance you seek to improve your operation’s bottom line.
