ABSTRACT
Calving difficulty is a two-fold problem. The only way out of this problem in a breeding herd is to cull ruthlessly all those animals that are the subject of a difficult calving. The composition of the calf was not materially affected, and hence there was no increase in calving difficulty. However, smart breeders realized that the quick way to later maturity was not to look for late-maturing sires but to go straight to larger cattle. The breeder with the herd of unfashionably small cows sought the quick answer by acquiring the biggest possible bull. The disproportionate size of the bulls and the cows caused oversized calves and serious calving problems. Late maturity has been achieved through the combination of leaner and larger animals without the calving difficulty being increased.
