Charollais - Farmers Stories

CHAROLLAIS Farmers Stories

40 YEARS ON AND BETTER THAN EVER! O Easy Lambing O O Active Lambs O O Quick Growth O O Rams Fit for Purpose O O Profitable Carcase Weights O 1

1977 1987 1997 2007 2017

40 Years of Charollais in the UK

It is 40 years since the first Charollais sheep arrived in the UK from France.

Since that time the breed has made tremendous strides and is now a significant player in the UK sheep industry.

When Charollais first arrived the breed had special qualities but also some aspects which were not so wellsuited to the UK climate. Through dedicated breeding and selection we have overcome those shortcomings and now there are rams that will work in any part of the UK.

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The Charollais breed’s greatest impact has undoutedly been the ability to combine easy lambing with quick growth and desirable carcases.

We were the first breed to provide this and remain the Number 1 easylambing, terminal sire.

And we have a breed that will tick all the right boxes in the future; we need to produce lamb meat with taste and eating quality and Charollais will come out top in this respect. Also lamb carcases with natural length are really the type that meat wholesalers wish for; consistent and high yielding with meat in the premium cuts.

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Charollais Choice in Cumbria The Wilson Family at Ivegill Farms, Cumbria have been successfully using Charollais rams as terminal sires since 2000, running them with a flock of 300 Mule and Texel-x-Mule ewes, producing over 500 prime lambs “They just

seem to click onto our Mules. We get very few bare-skinned lambs.”

“All our lambs go direct to St Merrion Foods in Wales and then onto Tesco.

We are selling them between 19kg and 23kg and quality is obviously key. We are probably heading more towards Texel-cross ewes because we get “I also continue to be amazed at how more E and U grades from these – they weigh. It’s hard to believe the and more value. numbers when they go on the scales.

“They consistently achieve their price potential on the deadweight grid.”

While the Wilsons are one of the few farmers in their area to use Charollais rams as terminal sires, they remain convinced of the qualities of the Charollais and are keen to promote the breed both near and far.

“It’s a well-known fact that they are easy lambing and the lambs are plenty lively enough when they are born.”

While well aware that some farmers were put off 10 -15 years ago by using the wrong type of Charollais tup, I’m really surprised that more are not using them as terminal sires these days.”

The breed has improved dramatically and maybe more farmers should be willing to have another go.

I’m confident they would be extremely pleased with the results.”

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Technology identifies Length and Meat Eating Quality The Charollais breed has been using top technology for over 20 years to find the very best of the breed in terms of body composition.

This has been achieved by the use of Computed Tomography (CT) scanning.

Each year performance recorded flocks have selected their best ram lambs to be assessed in detail through the CT scanner. The whole body scan taken of these lambs has looked at total lean meat, total bone, total fat

for these important terminal sire traits.

We are now going to be using this technology to add further information on the breed and enable breeders and commercial farmers to select for sheep that excel in other areas.

These new measurements are of particular interest and relevance to the Charollais breed.

Many research projects over the years have shown through carcase dissection that Charollais and their cross-bred offspring have longer loins and in fact more thoracolumbar vertebrae than other terminal sire breeds.

loins to be ‘ Longer measured

and a score for hind leg conformation (gigot score).

These results have been incorporated into the analysis and EBV (estimated breeding values) calculated 4

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Of course there is variation within the breed but consistently Charollais have recorded higher figures for this area of the body. Not only will lambs scanned in

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Images from the CT scans showing gigot shape, eye muscle area and total lean meat content. Top recorded loin length this year was 61.40 cms.

Technology identifies Length and Meat Eating Quality 2017 have their loin length and vertebrae number recorded but all the records from previous scans are going to be revisited and the data from these animals added to the analysis undertaken by Signet.

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Meat eating quality & tenderness

We will also be looking at eye muscle area. On farm scanning has used one measurement taken at the deepest part of the loin eye muscle. We have noted over the years that the Another area of particular shape of eye muscle does interest and relevance to vary considerably; some the Charollais breed is meat sheep have deep, narrow eating quality and eye muscles whilst others tenderness. Anyone who have wider but shallower has ever tasted Charollais ones. lamb will tell you just how tender and full of flavour By recording the area of the the meat is. meat on the loin we can The breed has always been renowned in France for the quality of its meat and favoured in the best restaurants. Using CT technology it is possible to record intramuscular fat which has long been associated with tenderness in both beef and lamb.

With funding from AHDB Beef and Lamb, the team at SRUC have developed a new EBV for this trait.

identify those rams that will produce the most meat in this area; the most valuable part on a lamb carcase.

This work has the potential to benefit everyone in the supply chain. Consumers will benefit from lamb with better eating quality, that has a greater yield of meat in the most desirable areas and is capable of being produced at lower cost.

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supply of lambs that more closely meet their specifications and ensure greater consistency in both the quality and quantity of lamb supplied. creating a unique selling point for commercial producers wanting longer, better fleshed or more productive progeny.

The commercial result - long, well-fleshed carcases with long loins. What the meat processors really want.

Processors and retailers have access to genetic solutions to help secure the

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Gareth Mckee farms in a very scenic part of Northern Ireland with his farm overlooked by the Mourne Mountain Range, as Gareth says “idyllic on a sunny day but very exposed in winter�.

The farm comprises 150 Suffolk X ewes which he lambs in January, 100 beef cattle which he finishes and he also grows 50 acres of cereals.

He has used Charollais shearling rams for the past number of years and finds them hard working and long lasting.

He likes the Charollais X lamb because he finds them easy to manage and they suit his system. Gareth aims to get his lambs to weight for sale as quickly as possible and to obtain as much live weight gain from grass as possible.

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Lambing in January, ewes and lambs are housed for roughly two weeks depending on the weather ,this allows the lambs to get stronger not just to face the weather conditions but also to face predators as he has problems with foxes lifting lambs.

Gareth uses a paddock system and sheep are rotated around so that the sheep have always fresh grass ahead of them and are moving onto clean pasture. Lambs are also creep fed as Gareth finds this can get them away up to two weeks earlier and improve grades.

Lambs are sold through the Strangford lamb group achieving a lot of top grades. It is imperative to Gareth that he gets his lambs away as quickly as possible and this is where the Charollais scores.

“Not only are Charollais easy to work with but their feed conversion ability is amazing�

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ALL AROUND THE UK COMMERCIAL LAMB PRODUCERS LIKE CHAROLLAIS RAMS - HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY. North of Scotland

South of Scotland

North of England

Ian Wisley, New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire.

Ian Young, Holywood, Dumfries.

Richard Clifford, head Stockman at Sledmere Estate, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

Farms in Aberdeenshire and uses Charollais on his Texel cross ewes.

Has a flock of 1,800 ewes and buys Charollais at Kelso or Dumfries Market.

Farms 200 Masham ewes and 350 Suffolk x North Country Mules.

Most lambs are sold deadweight straight off grass, remainder are fattened on stubble turnips and gone by November.

“We put Charollais to Texel cross ewes. The lambs consistently grade well at the abattoir giving a premium. I am very pleased with the breed.”

“I use the Charollais on our older ewes, which we lamb inside. I am impressed by the growth rates of the lambs and the easy finishing. The carcase weights achieved are ideal.”

"The ewes lamb easily with good conformation and good length in the loin."

"We are producing 90% R3L lambs aiming for 21kg carcase weight and rearing 1.75 lambs per ewe"

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East of England

Wales

William Mawer, Cambridgeshire.

Henri P Evans, Ty Croes, Anglesey.

Runs a flock of 250 Mules, 100 Suffolk x Mules and 100 Texel x Mules.

They keep Wiltshire Horn x Welsh ewes and also retain Charollais cross females.

“We use Charollais rams because they are easy to lamb and the lambs give good growth rates and good carcase conformation.”

“I buy a good number of Charollais rams at the Builth Wells Sale. They grow quickly, finish rapidly and get to a good weight. They also lamb easily and the lambs are up on their feet and suckling in no time at all.”

Central England George Savidge Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire.

South West England Runs 300 ewes and buys his Charollais rams off farm, as he likes tups in good working condition.

“I choose Charollais tups firstly for the easy lambing. Then it is the quick growth of the lambs, easy finishing and the excellent weights achieved.”

Mr and Mrs Prettejohn, Devon.

“It is the best thing we have ever done, using Charollais rams on our flock of Dorset ewes.”

They bought an excellent shaped ram in the market.

“The lambs have great shape and excellent growth rates. We have been topping Exeter prime market with our tight-skinned, quality lambs.”

Northern Ireland Paul McElroy, County Down, Northern Ireland.

“ I have used Charollais for six years on my pure horned ewes, amazing how solid the lambs are for their age.”

“The lambs thrive well and have no bother reaching finishing weight, you just need to keep a good eye on them for they get to weight so quickly.”

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Charollais Rams Suit Lleyn Flock Richard Thompson runs a flock of 500 Lleyn ewes at The Grove, Holbeach Hurn, Spalding in Lincolnshire, which are all mated to high performance, Charollais tups.

The land in this part of Lincolnshire is Grade 1 quality but sheep play an important role on this arable farm. The flock of 500 Lleyn ewes with Charollais sired lambs graze one year leys as part of the farms 7 year rotational grazing system.

performance results.

Lambing takes place inside in March with turnout when the lambs are just a few days old.

“We find that Charollais rams work well and give us plenty of lambs. They are easily lambed and up and about in no time at all.”

Once onto to the fresh leys no additional feed is offered and lambs are away by the beginning of June. The fast growth rates of the Charollais cross ensures that all lambs are off the farm by the end of October.

“I believe that the increase in fertility of the land that the sheep bring is well worth it. You only have to increase potato yields by a small amount to make this pay.” Also Richard takes a holistic approach to farming and wants to leave the soil in better heart.

The flock achieves top 10

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Richard Thompson sells all his lambs live through Thame Market where their attract premium prices with their tight skins, good muscling and long loins.

The flock achieves an output per ewe far higher than industry benchmarks.

They are selling 1.7 lambs/ewe tupped. This is achieved with low lamb losses, both at lambing and during the grazing season.

Lleyn ewe with her Charollais cross twin lambs at The Grove, Holbeach Hurn, Lincs.

Ewe Auction Sales for 2017 ALL EWES AT OUR OFFICIAL IN-LAMB EWE SALES ARE INSPECTED AND WARRANTED IN LAMB.

IN-LAMB SALES

VENUE

DAY

DATE

“FEMALES WITH FIGURES”

WORCESTER MARKET

SATURDAY

10TH JUNE

“WORCESTER SAUCY SALE”

WORCESTER MARKET

SATURDAY

7TH OCTOBER

“CREAM OF THE LUDLOW MARKET CROP”

SUNDAY

8TH OCTOBER

SKIPTON SALE

SKIPTON MARKET

SATURDAY

14TH OCTOBER

THORNETOWN

EXETER LIVESTOCK MARKET

FRIDAY

20TH OCTOBER

HEREFORD MARKET

SATURDAY

21ST OCTOBER

BRECON FEMALE

BRECON LIVESTOCK MARKET

THURSDAY

26TH OCTOBER

MELTON MOWBRAY

MELTON MOWBRAY MARKET

SATURDAY

28TH OCTOBER

DUNGANNON EXPORT FEMALE SALE

DUNGANNON FARMERS MART

MONDAY

30TH OCTOBER

WELSHPOOL FEMALE

WELSHPOOL LIVESTOCK SALES

SATURDAY

4TH NOVEMBER

WEDDERBURN

WORCESTER MARKET

SUNDAY

5TH NOVEMBER

WORCESTER MARKET

SATURDAY

25TH NOVEMBER

DISPERSAL SALE

HEREFORD

JOINT

PRODUCTION

DISPERSAL SALE

BOULD DISPERSAL SALE

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Ram Auction Sales for 2017 Buy with confidence at our official sales - all stock are inspected for the 3 T’s, teeth, testicles and toes.

RAM SALES

VENUE

DAY OF WEEK

DATE

WORCESTER PREMIER

WORCESTER MARKET

SATURDAY

1ST JULY

SCOTTISH PREMIER SALE

STIRLING MARKET

WEDNESDAY

5TH JULY

DUNGANNON PREMIER

DUNGANNON FARMERS

MONDAY

31ST JULY

SHREWSBURY

SHREWSBURY MARKET

TUESDAY

1ST AUGUST

BUILTH WELLS EARLY

WELSH SHOWGROUND

MONDAY

7TH AUGUST

BEESTON CASTLE

BEESTON CASTLE MARKET

THURSDAY

10TH AUGUST

EXETER NSA SALE EXETER LIVESTOCK PLUS FEMALES MARKET

WEDNESDAY

16TH AUGUST

CARLISLE

BORDERWAY MART

FRIDAY

25TH AUGUST

SKIPTON

SKIPTON MARKET

TUESDAY

12TH SEPTEMBER

DUNGANNON SEPT

DUNGANNON FARMERS MART

THURSDAY

14TH SEPTEMBER

BALLYMENA

BALLYMENA MARKET

MONDAY

19TH SEPTEMBER

BUILTH WELLS MAIN

WELSH SHOWGROUND

MONDAY

25TH SEPTEMBER

WELSHPOOL

WELSHPOOL LIVESTOCK SALES

THURSDAY

28TH SEPT

PLUS EMPTY FEMALES

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