Calving ease is a focus of many producers when buying bulls. Most major beef cattle breed associations will report EPDs for calving ease direct (CED), birthweight (BW), and calving ease maternal (CEM). Selection emphasis should be placed on EPDs for calving ease instead of actual birthweights.
If bulls will be used to breed heifers evaluate CED. It accounts for birthweight and other factors that influence calving ease.
Calving ease maternal should be used when keeping replacement heifers out of a bull. If all heifer calves will be sold as non-replacements, there is no reason to look at CEM. ~Jason Banta
