vanridge said:
The cow also puts 100% of the enviroment factor into the calves.
Jody, could you eplain this factor to me a little more? im a little unclear to what these factors add to or take from the calves genotype or phenotype (or both of these). thx
Calving ease and birth weight are decided by two factors: genetics and environment. The genetics is obvious- calf gets 50% from each parent. The environment has everything to do with the cow- and nothing with the sire- he's already 'injected' his part.
By this i mean: The way the cow is fed (nutrition), the climate the cow lives in (time of year, or location), and the makeup of the cow (pelvic size, age, exercise)-- all in many people's opinion are just as important as the actual genetics of the calf.
Mature cows, that are fed hard, in a cold Canada environment, calving in Feb, confined to a dry mud lot up by the barn-- could very well have a calf 20 pounds heavier at birth than that same cow who was a few years younger, out on grass, calving in August on pasture in Texas.
the actual phenotype, other than size- should not be effected: but could be effected by milking ability, creep feed, or somewhat by size at birth. it seems that big boned, big headed, big shouldered bull calves- will always outperform the opposite: but more times than not: that's prob genetics causing it.