2023 Limousin Annual Journal

No Calf, No Gain –
Limousin Calving EBVs
TECHNICAL
Every farmer has been there. Stuck in the
shed with the worry for the life of the
calf that’s struggling to enter this world.
That’s what makes calving ease so important
on farm. Lowering the risk of loss and creating
a less stressful farm environment is important
for all Limousin producers and it’s a purchasing
consideration for the processors and retailers
considering buying Limousin.
The numbers below represent the Calving Ease
and Maternal Calving Ease EBVs for the 1821
sires of the Limousin calves born in 2022.
The results are impressive with 82% of all
sires used being breed average or above for
combinations of Calving Ease and Maternal
Calving ease EBVs.
The percentage of bulls used with both Calving
Ease and Maternal Calving Ease EBVs above
breed average is 27%, which is an increase
of 6% from the last time this exercise was
reported in 2019.
It all suggests that Limousin breeders are
improving the calving ease of their cattle
and accelerating the rate at which they are
doing so. This bodes well for producers who repeatedly turn to
the inherent easy calving and calf quality attributes of Limousin to
support their breeding programmes.
Calving Ease and Maternal Calving Ease for 1821 Sires of 2022-
Born Calves:
MATERNAL
CALVING EASE
CALVING EASE
Average &
Above
Below
Average
Average & Above 27% 30%
Below Average 25% 17%
9 Calving Ease EBV (%): predicts the ease with which
a bull’s calves will be born. Higher positive values
(% unassisted) indicate bulls with genetic potential to
be easier calving. In females, it indicates the genetic
potential of their bull calves to be easy calving sires.
9 Maternal Calving Ease EBV (%): predicts the ease with
which a bull’s daughters will calve. Higher positive
values (% unassisted) indicate bulls with genetic potential
to sire females that will calve more easily. In females, it
indicates their genetic potential to calve unassisted.
www.limousin.co.uk
ANNUAL JOURNAL 2023 | 137