If you raise your own replacement heifers, you probably evaluate maternal traits when you buy a bull. Let’s take a look at some of those and how they are expressed.

First on the list is calving ease. Keep in mind that 50% of the genetics come from the Dam, so the BW EPD is not the only one involved. The Calving Ease Maternal (CEM) EPD is also taken into consideration when PCC® gives a star rating for the sale catalog. A bull with a 4-star rating is recommended safe for heifers, and a 5-star rating is guaranteed to work. Pharo Cattle Company® sells more calving ease bulls than anyone in the industry.

The Status Quo beef industry does not acknowledge that calving ease is more than a genetic issue, it is a structural issue. They love the look of those cattle with high tail heads and a level hip. I dealt with this more completely in another video, (How To Spot Calving Ease) but a proper hip angle is a huge part of calving ease, and is one reason for PCC’s success in that area.

We also previously discussed the importance of longevity, an indication that this bull’s mother and grandmother were fertile, easy keepers and have done everything right year after year.

Here’s one that may cause a stir, but what about the Milk EPD? For many years, Kit Pharo has been the only one saying that Milk is NOT a maternal trait; it is a growth trait. The fact is, a cow that produces more milk requires more groceries. Keep in mind, that her calf will inherit that same appetite and require more feed to perform as well. If you’re willing to look seriously at this, notice the correlation between the Milk EPD and the $EN EPD. An animal with higher milk will almost always have a lower $EN EPD, many times significantly lower! Conversely, animals with less milk, have much better $EN EPD’s.

Here’s a quote from one of Kit’s newsletters:
“Research from the USDA station in Miles City, Montana, has shown that we can separate a calf from its Dam, and get the exact same gains with 15-20 % less feed. What does that tell you about milk? Milk is very inefficient and expensive. Contrary to popular opinion, we do NOT raise calves on milk. We raise calves on grass and use milk as a bypass protein supplement. According to a study in Australia, more than 80% of a calf’s ability to grow from birth to weaning is due to his genetic foraging ability. Less than 20% can be attributed to milk. Ultimately, fertility is the most important maternal trait. From an economic point of view, nothing is more important in a cow/calf operation. Ironically, high milk production is extremely antagonistic toward fertility. Heavy milking cows tend to be hard keeping cows that are very difficult to get bred back. Reproduction can only take place after maintenance requirements have been met.”

Pharo Cattle Company® has genetics designed for profitable, real-world ranching. This April, we’ll be selling 440 bulls in Texas, Missouri and Colorado. For a catalog call, 800-311-0995. I’ll see you next time on the Herd Quitter® Minute.