INFLUENCE OF COW BODY WEIGHT AND CONDITION
SCORE BEFORE DELIVERY ON CALVING COURSE OF
HEREFORD COWS
Henryk Grodzki, Tomasz Przysucha, Jan Slósarz
Department of Cattle Breeding, Warsaw University of Life Sciences SGGW,
Poland
(Поступила в редакцию 21.05.2010 г.)
Abstract. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of Hereford cows body weight and condition score (BCS) before calving on
calving course. The performance of 314 purebred Hereford cows kept at 3 farms in Poland constituted the material for investigations. Body condition
score was estimated using 9 point scale according to Richards (24) directly before planned calving day. The following levels were used: 1 - bad
(notes 1, 2, 3), 2 - suitable (notes 4, 5, 6, 7), 3 – more than enough (notes 8, 9). All the animals were weighted. The calving course was qualified to
one of the following categories: N – easy, without any help, T – difficult, with farmer’s help or mechanical means use. The ratio of different calving
course of Hereford cows depending on their body weight and condition (BCS) just prior to calving was analysed. Correlation coefficient between
calving course and Hereford cows BCS was low (r = -0.019), but statistically significant. The highest ratio of difficult calvings was noticed for cows,
which body weight not exceeded 500 kg (20.7%). Together with cow body weight increase the ratio of difficult calvings decreased. BCS notes 4, 5, 6,
7 were proved as the optimal (majority of calvings were examined as “suitable”). All of calvings from cows with 1, 2, 3 notes had to be assisted.
Introduction. Problem of beef cow body weight and its condition (BCS) just before delivery has a direct impact on
calving quality. The basic factors influencing calving course such as: cow age and connected with it calving number,
calf body weight at birth, calf sex, cow pelvis structure are well known and described [Berger 1994; Berger et al. 1992;
Brzozowski et al. 1994; Brzozowski et al. 1998; Johnson and Berger 2003; McDermott et al. 1992; Meyer et al. 2000;
Nix et al. 1998; Nogalski 2003]. There is not too much information on the influence of cow BCS just before calving on
its course. Evaluation of beef cows’ BCS in the different physiological periods, depending mainly on nutritional level
and system of housing, as well as the influence of BCS on calving quality in purebred beef cow population should be
the aim of investigations.
The goal of the study was to determine the influence of Hereford cows body weight and BCS before calving on
calving quality.
Material and methods. 314 purebred Hereford cows at 3 farms, members of the Polish Association of Beef Cattle
Breeders and Producers, were the material of investigations. Body condition score was estimated using 9 point scale
according to Richards et al. [1986] directly before planned calving day. The following levels were used: 1 - bad (notes
1, 2, 3), 2 - suitable (notes 4, 5, 6, 7), 3 – more than enough (notes 8, 9). All the animals were weighted. The calving
course was qualified to one of the following categories: N – easy, without any help, T – difficult, with farmer’s help or
mechanical means use. The ratio of different calving course of Hereford cows depending on their body weight and condition (BCS) just prior to calving was analyzed by χ 2 test using SPSS 12.0 software. The delivery course of Hereford
cows depending on BCS before calving was determined using analysis of variance method. Correlation coefficient between calving course and Hereford cows BCS before calving was calculated by Spearman method.
Results and discussion. The ratio of different calving categories depending on cow body weight before calving was
presented in table 1. Not significant influence of cow body weight on calving quality was noticed, but along with cow
body weight increase the percentage of assisted deliveries (human help or mechanical means use) decreased. In the
group of the lightest cows the share of difficult calving amounted to 20.7%, whereas in the group of the heaviest ones
there were no difficult calvings at all. The results obtained are similar to presented by other authors [Fitzhugh 1978;
Morris and Wilton 1976; Notter et al. 1979], who proved, that the heavier cows have usually less problems with calvings. However, in other authors’ research the influence of cow body weight on delivery quality was not so evident [Andersen 1978; Dickerson 1978; Morris and Wilton 1977].
According to those experiments the optimal cow body weight and measurements depend mainly on production system, and the benefits resulting from the lower frequency of difficult calvings in big calibre and higher weight cows
could be equalize by the higher costs of their basic maintenance requirements.
Calving course type evaluation depending on cow condition before calving was presented in table 2. Statistically
significant (P≤0.01) influence of BCS of Hereford cows before calving on the delivery quality was noticed. All of the
cows with BCS before calving assessed as “bad” (notes 1, 2, 3) had problems at calving and required farmer’s help or
mechanical means use. Similarly, the majority (82.1%) of cows with BCS notes 8, 9 ("more than enough”) also required
farmer’s help or mechanical means use. BCS notes 4, 5, 6, 7 were proved as the optimal (92.6%. of calvings were examined as “suitable”).
Many authors [Meijering 1984; Nogalski 2004a; Przysucha et al. 2005; Weiher et al. 1992] emphasized the close
association of cow BCS with its delivery quality. BCS evaluated as “more than enough” causes over-fattening of pelvic
area and cow decreases the readiness to take delivery efforts, which results in difficult calving frequency increase
[Nogalski 2004b; Ruciński 1998]. Pogorzelska i Szarek [2002] reported, that cows, and especially heifers, of “more
than enough” BCS in round-delivery period usually had assisted or even difficult deliveries. It should be also noticed,
that cows of different BCS before calving had the longer service period before the next pregnancy [Corah 1989; Whitman et al. 1975]. In spite of the appropriate protein and energy level in the feeding ration, providing of suitable minerals
and vitamins is also very important for calving course. Their shortage could be one of the reasons of disorders and
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complications during delivery as well as higher mortality of newborn calves [Pogorzelska et al. 1998; Pogorzelska and
Szarek 2002]. Periodic feedstuff shortages, improper ration balance (protein to energy ration) as well as metabolic diseases are the most common reasons of bad BCS of the cow, and in effect – difficult deliveries increase. The calving
course of cows, and especially heifers, is negatively influenced not only by too good, but also by too poor condition
[Nogalski 2004b; Philipsson 1976].
Correlation coefficient between calving course and Hereford cows BCS calculated in presented study was low (r =
-0.019), but negatively significantly correlated with their condition score.
Conclusions. Summarizing, it should be stated, that the optimal BCS of cows before calving should be “suitable”
(4, 5, 6 and 7 points) (according to Richards et al. [1986] scale), when the majority of deliveries was assessed as easy.
All of the cows with BCS before calving assessed as “bad” (notes 1, 2, 3) had problems at calving and required
farmer’s help or mechanical means use. Similarly, the majority (82.1%) of cows with BCS notes 8, 9 ("more than
enough”) also required farmer’s help or mechanical means use. BCS notes 4, 5, 6, 7 were proved as the optimal (92.6%
of calvings were examined as “suitable”).
Correlation coefficient between calving course and Hereford cows BCS calculated in presented study was low (r =
-0.019), but negatively significantly correlated with their condition score.
Table 1 – Calving course type evaluation depending on cow body weight before calving
Cow body weight (kg)
N/%
≤ 500
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
501-600
601-700
701-800
> 800
Total
Calving course type
Neasy
T difficult
73
19
79.3
20.7
95
27
77.9
22.1
68
10
87.2
12.8
14
3
82.4
17.6
5
0
100.0
.00
255
59
81.2
18.8
χ 2 = 4.10 not significant
Significance of differences
Total
92
100.0
122
100.0
78
100.0
17
100.0
5
100.0
314
100.0
Table 2 – Calving course type evaluation depending on cow condition before calving
Cow condition before calving
Bad
Suitable
More than enough
Total
Calving course type
N/%
N easy
0
0
250
92.6
5
17.9
255
81.2
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%
Significance of differences
T difficult
12
100
20
7.4
27
82.1
59
18.8
χ2 = 223,90 P≤0.01
Total
12
100
270
100
32
100
314
100
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