Calving “Problem” Myth?

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 11

Calving “Problem” Myth?

A CANTERBURY farmer who is using Charolals semen on Aberdeen Angus and Friesian cows expressed surprise this week at figures on calving difficulties in Charolais-cross breeding as quoted by Mr M. G. Bollard, reader in animal science at Lincoln College. On his return from studies overseas, Mr Bollard reported that calving difficulties in cattle in the Argentine had been shown to be greater in the Cbarolais crosses than with crosses at British beef breeds. The comparative figures he quoted were 5.8 per eent as against 0.5. This week, Mr J. E. Austin, of View Hill, sent “The Press" a copy of an article in the British “Fanners’ Weekly” on the subject of Cbarolais calvings. The article said: “It is known that the pure breed, in France, suffers from some difficulty at calving and early Investigations in this country suggested that this fault might also be present where Charolals bulls were used as crossing sires. “Later, it became clear that much of the early trouble here was due to anxiety on the part of farmers using Charolals on their cows for the first time. Reported calving difficulties dropped significantly from the first year at Charolals use to the third.

“Now, to resolve the question, Milk Board, field staff are completing a further survey. “Results so far Indicate that, in 1500 calvings to 10 bulls, difficulties have occurred in a mere 3 per cent of cases.

“The last national calving survey on Friesians showed that difficulties could be expected in more than 8 per cent of pure breeding cases. So it looks as if the bogey of Charolals calving troubles is a myth.’

Mr Austin said it was hoped that the calving question would not be taken out of context in New Zealand as had happened in Britain before the Charolals breed had been established there. In New Zealand this year there had been few problems with calving, and as the use of

Charolais semen increased greatly there would be more information available at next calving under New Zealand conditions.