Maternal Traits Matter
by Jaclyn Krymowski
The Limousin breed has repeatedly earned admiration and lauds for its high meat quality . Not only is this pleasing for the consumer ’ s palate , it ’ s also beneficial for the bottom line of farms and ranchers . For these beef producers , there is another breed characteristic that stands out – strong maternal traits and qualities .
The profitability of maternal strengths is not as immediately obvious when compared to the terminal carcass traits . However , the maternal attributes of both the dam and sire are absolutely crucial for getting that end product as they are aimed at a healthy and prolific calf . These traits alone are what has made Limousin cattle and genetics attractive to cow-calf producers who have struggled in this area .
Not only has the breed proven itself for its mothering and calving abilities , but Limousin dams also repeatedly produce calves that are robust and ready to work – helping farmers and ranchers earn more with less work . Due to the strong genetic component of this nature , herds looking to boost their maternal EPDs and traits can benefit from adding Limousin genetic influence .
Here is a rundown of some of the key maternal attributes and why they matter to your herd ’ s bottom line .
Calving-ease
Calving-ease is an essential trait for a sire to have when servicing vulnerable first-calf heifers . However , dams with a more favorable calving-ease component are also excellent as the likelihood of them having issues during parturition and needing assistance is
unlikely . This is a crucial advantage for operations with limited help or those more remote with limited calving check abilities .
According to the most recent International Cattle Evaluation run , Limousin and Lim-Flex sires and dams average + 11 for the Calvingease direct EPD .
Robust calves
Thanks to both maternal qualities and vigor , Limousin calves are known for their robust nature and enthusiastic nursing characteristics . While there are many ways to look at and evaluate the strength of calves , one of the most important determiners is how the calf behaves in the first few hours of life .
From the moment a calf hits the ground , the clock begins ticking on maximal antibody absorption from colostrum . The longer it takes a calf to nurse , ( and the less amount it drinks ) the less ability the gut has to absorb the dense immunoglobulins . Naturally lethargic calves , in severe cases , will need human assistance to rebound , adding to time and cost of labor .
In no small part due to vigor , calves with Limousin parentage also tend to have very desirable weaning , birth and yearling weights as these are all very closely correlated . Notably , across breeds , Limousin averages + 2.0 above the industry baseline for birthweight . Active Limousin sires also have an average weaning and yearling weight EPD of 61 and 88 lbs . with highs of 104 and 169 lbs .
34 • OCTOBER 2021