The number of Charollais flocks joining the breed performance recording scheme has seen an unprecedented jump upwards this year.  No fewer than 24 flocks have joined the scheme during the year or signed up to start in 2006.  This represents a 40% increase in the number of flocks recording their stock.  Of the total membership this figure does not represent a large % - but the Charollais breed is unique in that of our top flocks many are performance recorded.  At the breed Premier Sale at Worcester no fewer than 75% of the rams entered were performance recorded.  This is a situation which other terminal sires cannot match. 

This upsurge in interest both in the pedigree sector and from commercial ram users, in recorded information has been to a very great extent as a consequence of the excellent work carried out by Eblex with their Better Returns Programme.   The Charollais Society and Charollais Sires would like to congratulate Eblex Better Returns Programme on the unprecedented work they have undertaken to promote the use of recorded stock.  Our members have without exception, reported a sharp uptake and interest in their rams and ewes. 

As Chris Lloyd, Project Manager explains “ Without a doubt, BRP has been one of the largest grass roots technology transfer programmes aimed at the English sheep sector.  Its task was a bold one – to make every English lamb producer aware of how better selection and handling techniques and using recorded stock could increase the returns from their flock.   Of course these messages are not new, but what BRP aimed to do was present these messages in an exciting and occasionally unconventional way, encouraging producers to think about their own systems and ways in which they might be able to improve them.”

Charollais breeders have been highly involved in the BRP programme.  On-farm breeding events have been hosted by 15 different Charollais breeders; with attendance from 30 – 300.  The breed has been featured in much of the BRP publicity. 

We were also fortunate to be awarded a direct grant from BRP to fund the collection, utilization and wider dissemination of semen from the very best index rams available.  This will enhance and maintain a high level of connectedness in all participating flocks and also ensure the best genetics are retained and used on a maximum of flocks.  The grant has been used to facilitate the collection and storage of a number of high profile, high performance rams for greater use within the performance recorded population of Charollais.  These will be offered to all performance recording flocks in 2006. 

The Sire Reference Scheme continues to function as a group breeding scheme and plays a pivotal role in maintaining the robustness of information for our breed.  They met early in the season to select their Reference Rams for 2006.  Heading their selection was Cold Harbour Famous Grouse (ZXW 5019) from Tony and June Gregory, Mursley, Bucks.  This son of Rutland Domingo has a Breed Index of 432 with EBV figures of Scan 8.40, Muscle 4.23, Fat -0.27 and his dam was by Highway Caradog.  Closely behind in the points was Crogham Five Star (AB 5085) from Jonathan and Carroll Barber.  A son of Crogham Deuce, this ram had a very high EBV for growth at 11.33 combined with muscle at 3.02 and fat at -0.18 to give him an overall index of 393.  Completing the team was a ram lamb from Neil Oughton’s Lowerye flock with an outstanding EBV for muscle at 5.55 and a breed index of 423. 

Meanwhile flocks await the progeny of this year’s sires with great anticipation.  The three sires used where double Royal Show winner, Rutland Ensign; Logie Durno Earl of Dunbar, top price ram lamb Premier sale 2004 and Lowerye Eric, highest recorded trait for muscle within the Sire Ranking. 

From left to right, Tony Gregory with Coldharbour Famous Grouse, Carroll Barber with Crogham Five Star and Neil Oughton with his Lowerye ram lamb.

CHAROLLAIS SIRE REFERENCING SCHEME MEMBERS

At the 1989 Annual General Meeting of the British Charollais Sheep Society the proposal was put that a breed improvement programme should be implemented using the 'sire referencing' system of analysis. This was welcomed by members of the Society and in 1990 a group of breeders joined together to form "Charollais Sire Referencing Ltd."

The Society was keen that the Charollais breed should ensure the breeds ability to supply rams of the highest quality to the commercial lamb producer. The ability of Charollais rams to produce quality carcases and good growth rates was paramount to its continued success as a terminal sire. The aim of breeders should be to increase the total lean meat yield of Charollais progeny and ensure top performance in growth rate.

The establishment of a sire reference scheme it was felt would be of great benefit to the breed as a whole in the identification of superior genetic material.

Charollais Sire Referencing is a way of providing a genetic link between Charollais flocks through the progeny of the same rams use in a number of flocks. This enables flocks to be compared one with another to identify superior rams and breeding females. Use of this superior genetic material will in future years increase the performance of all sheep within the scheme.

The main objective of the scheme is to increase the total lean meat yield and to maximise the growth rate of Charollais as the terminal sire of lambs for the future

Flocks who have been following the breeding lines as identified by the scheme have seen a dramatic increase in the performance of their sheep, in terms of growth, eye muscle development without fat. The opportunity to use top rams at reasonable prices has allowed many flocks access to breeding lines otherwise out of their reach. The data on female lines has been of great advantage to flock owners to improve the overall standard of their flocks.

The demand for high index commercial rams has risen dramatically over the past few years. Premiums for top 25% rams are achieved by all sire reference flocks.

Year	8 wk wt EBV	Scan wt EBV	Muscle Depth EBV	Fat Depth EBV	Scheme Index
1990	0.03	0.30	0.24	-0.07	102
1991	0.37	0.98	0.41	-0.04	115
1992	0.33	0.80	0.33	0.00	105
1993	0.57	1.43	0.49	0.03	111
1994	0.66	1.71	0.54	0.04	121
1995	0.80	2.02	0.63	0.08	127
1996	0.97	2.48	0.71	0.06	142
1997	1.05	2.61	0.75	0.02	152
1998	1.17	2.83	0.92	0.02	161
1999	1.49	3.53	0.96	0.01	176
2000	1.90	4.41	1.48	0.02	198
2001	2.21	5.07	1.90	-0.06	225
2002	2.46	5.52	2.07	-0.02	234
2003	2.29	5.52	2.5	-0.31	267
2004
2005	2.25	5.26	2.02	-0.17	243

If you would like to discuss the possibility of your flock joining the scheme we would be very pleased to talk with you; either contact Jonathan or Carroll Barber

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