Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Multiple linear and nonlinear regression analyses of factors causing calving difficulty.

R E Short1, R A Bellows, R B Staigmiller

  • 1Livestock and Range Research Station, Miles City, MT 59301 USA; U. S. Department of Agriculture, Miles City, MT 59301 USA; Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, Miles City, MT 59301 USA.

Theriogenology
|September 1, 1979
PubMed
Summary

Calving difficulty in heifers is primarily predicted by birth weight and pelvic area. A pelvic area to birth weight ratio above 8.4 can help prevent difficult calving events.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Human health impacts of exposure to phthalate plasticizers: An overview of reviews.

Environment international·2021
Same author

Scaphoid Waist Nonunion in an 8-Year-Old: A Rare Occurrence.

Case reports in orthopedics·2019
Same author

A change as remarkable "as the Revolution itself": Boston's demographics, 1780-1800.

The New England quarterly·2007
Same author

Beef heifer development within three calving systems.

Journal of animal science·2007
Same author

Genetic parameter estimates for scrotal circumference and semen characteristics of Line 1 Hereford bulls.

Journal of animal science·2006
Same author

Calving system and weaning age effects on cow and preweaning calf performance in the Northern Great Plains.

Journal of animal science·2005

Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Calving difficulty (CD) is a significant concern in beef cattle production, impacting calf survival and economic returns.
  • Predicting and mitigating CD is crucial for efficient herd management, especially in first-calf heifers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key factors influencing calving difficulty in young heifers.
  • To develop a predictive model for calving difficulty based on measurable traits.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of calving difficulty scores (1-4) in 592 first-calf heifers across three crossbred types.
  • Independent variables included birth weight (BW), pelvic area (PA), cow weight (CW), cow condition score (CS), and calf sex (S).
  • Multiple correlation analyses (R²) were used to assess the predictive power of various factors and their interactions.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Birth weight and pelvic area were the most significant predictors of calving difficulty, explaining a substantial portion of the variation (R² up to .39).
  • Adding cow weight and calf sex provided minor improvements in prediction, while cow condition score had no significant effect.
  • A pelvic area to birth weight ratio exceeding 8.4 was associated with less than 50% calving difficulty.

Conclusions:

  • Linear effects of birth weight and pelvic area are the primary drivers of calving difficulty variation.
  • The pelvic area to birth weight ratio offers a practical tool for assessing calving risk.
  • Further research could explore quadratic effects and other management factors to refine prediction models.