Management
Jump-Start Calving Season with Superior Maternal
Behavior
By Bruce Derksen
With the arrival of calving
season, many new purebred
and commercial producers are
in for a pleasant surprise, while
existing Limousin and Lim-
Flex breeders are confidently
anticipating what is on the
horizon for their operations.
The new owner of that
handful of recently purchased
purebred pregnant heifers or
the commercial rancher with
hundreds of cross-bred cows
bred to Limousin based sires
all did their homework, put
in the legwork and research,
made the informed choice
and followed through with
the investment. Now, they
expectantly wait to view the
results and experience the
maternal behaviors first hand
that they believe will positively
expand their operation.
Research performed by
D.V.M. Ph.D. R. Poletto (2010)
defined maternal behavior as
the pattern of behaviors that
are shown by the mother to
her dependent offspring or
young. As the evolutionary
success of a species depends
on the survival of the offspring,
maternal behavior is of utmost
importance in many species,
particularly mammals and
includes the establishment
18 | MARCH 2019
of the cow-calf bond, nursing
and attentiveness to the calf
by the cow and protection
of the calf from predators
as well as environmental
protection (Grandinson,
2005; Hoppe et al., 2008).
In biology, newborn calves
belong to the altricial
developmental strategy
of raising offspring which
means naked, blind and
entirely dependent on their
parent for maintenance of
bodily functions. With this
in mind, it is literally of life
and death importance that
the motherhood base of
the producer’s cow herd be
maternally suited to the upper
limits of their genetics and
abilities. Advanced maternal
behavior surrounding
parturition must include
isolation and selection of a
suitable birth site, licking and
facilitation of suckling, proper
vocalization, hormonal release
and bonding, and natural hiding
and protection of young.
Calving ease is the trait that
has been at the foundation
of the Limousin breed on this
continent from the beginning.
Relative to growth, Limousin
remains a calving ease leader. As
a partial result of this, calves are
born stronger, with less neonatal
mortality and veterinarian
expenses. A common theme
expressed by producers new
to Limousin influence in their
cow herds is astonishment at
the vigor shown by newborn
calves. Literally within seconds
calves are usually on their
feet attempting to nurse. The
positives of easy calving and
calf vigor propel the natural
maternal instincts of the dam
to initiate and follow through
with the required bonding
process. Once calves are safely
delivered, nursing and bonding
with their mother, there is no
where to go but up as the main
objective then becomes growth.
In the past and still today,
there are producers that over-
look or completely discount
the maternal characteristics
of Limousin in favor of British
based females. Scientific
evidence continues to prove
Limousin and now, Lim-Flex,
females are biologically efficient
and flexible enough to thrive
under various environmental,
climate and feeding conditions.
For cross-breeding in
commercial herds, they are
the ideal compliment. Beyond