Records of 2191 calvings from the Clemson University Beef Physiology Unit between 1981 and 1993 were analyzed to determine factors affecting malpresentation, mortality and dystocia. Only 20 (0.91%) parturitions involved malpresentation: posterior presentation (n=14), leg deviations (n=3), head deviations (n=2) and breech birth (n=1). Dystocia affected calf mortality within 24 h of birth (P