Optimal breeding strategies for calving ease

Calving ease is of economic importance in dairy cattle and should be considered in breeding programs. Economic values of direct and maternal calving ease were derived based on cost-benefit analysis and gene flow methodology. Marginal returns from dystocia reduction in primiparous dams were -$43 per phenotypic standard deviation compared with $300 for production. For an average mate, numbers of discounted expressions for sires to breed replacements were .58, .44, and .63 for direct and maternal calving ease and production. Discounted expressions for direct calving ease were higher when sires were mated to primiparous versus multiparous dams. Three alternative breeding strategies were compared: 1) separate selection of sires as mates of primiparous and multiparous cows, based on their respective optimal indexes for direct and maternal calving ease, 2) selection based on the optimal index for an average mate, and 3) selection on direct calving ease only. Strategies 2 and 3 allowed for assortative mating of sires with favorable direct calving ease to primiparous females subsequent to selection. Strategy 2 resulted in maximal economic response. Optimal standardized index weights under Canadian circumstances were approximately 100:9:7 for production:direct calving ease:maternal calving ease. Inclusion of calving ease traits had a minor effect (< .5%) on selection responses and efficiency but would provide proper guidelines to producers. Greatest benefits of genetic evaluations for calving ease were obtained through assortative mating.