Loala Bulls Reduce Calf Birth Weights
DAKOTA - The North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center is having success lowering calf birth weights by breeding heifers to Loala bulls.
24 April 2007
1 minute read
The heifers, typically black and black baldy heifers, have calved with very little oversight, reports Kris Ringwall, NDSU extension beef specialist.
In 2004, the nine calves averaged 68.6 pounds and all the calves scored a one (no assistance provided). In 2005, 25 calves from Loala bulls averaged 64.9 pounds, with 24 calves scoring a one for calving ease and one calf scoring a two (requiring minor assistance).
The 48 calves born in 2006 averaged 63.8 pounds, with no assistance provided to any heifers. In preparation for the 2007 calving season, the heifers were moved from lot-calving to pasture- calving, given the minimal assistance required the previous three years.
The heifers are not done calving for this year, Ringwall says, but the 44 calves that have been born have averaged 74.7 pounds and all but two have required no assistance. The two heifers that were brought in needed minimal assistance.
