Approaches to Decreasing Dystocia in the Primiparous Beef Heifer EPD's

or the Pelvimeter, You Make the Choice

Abstract

High rates of dystocia in primiparous beef heifers are responsible for significant economic loss to United States beef cattle producers.^1,2,3 Losses due to dystocia result from increased calf and cow mortality, increased labor and veterinary costs, and subsequent decreased reproductive performance of the dam.^3,4,5,6,7 One study showed that primiparous two- and three-year-olds were responsible for over 40% of the herd calf mortality and that dystocia was the single largest cause of calf death in the first 96 hours postpartum.⁸ The study also showed that the fall pregnancy rate was 7% lower in cows that had lost calves compared with those that had not.⁸