| The British Charolais Cattle Society |
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Do commercial bull buyers use
Breedplan data?
We asked a random selection of
suckler men at the February Perth bulls sales what are their main criteria
when choosing Charolais as their herd’s terminal sire.
While it came as no surprise that
good conformation and locomotion headed their list, they unanimously
indicated that introducing Breedplan data was now an essential part of the
selection process.
Despite some initial caution,
these men are realising that using Estimated Breeding Values is enabling
them to identify bulls of superior genetic merit that will leave progeny
which are easy to calve and demonstrate
higher performance. That means less labour and fewer days to
target sale weight, or alternatively heavier weights achieved within the
traditional sale period.
Whatever your system, introducing Breedplan data to your Charolais bull
selection criteria takes the uncertainty out of choosing a new sire and
provides real opportunity to improve your returns.
Scott McKinnon, Moniave,
“Muscle and shape, good locomotion, and nowadays their good looks must be
underpinned by Breedplan figures; they must be within the breed’s top 10%
for growth rate and ease of calving.”
Raymond McKinnon, Dumfries:
600 cows, “Good
muscle, mobility and feet, and Breedplan for growth rate and ease of calving
– everything we look at has to be in the breed’s top 10% figures, they
really do help as a back up tool.”
Andrew Hamilton, Thornhill:
150 cows “The
bull has to catch my eye. He has to have shape – good conformation,
mobility, be true to breed type and finally, his accompanying Breedplan
figures are important to back my judgement.”
Mark Ross, Gorebridge,
“Length for maximum sirloin and weight, a good back end for extra muscle,
locomotion and his figures, they’re an important guide.”
Andrew Bell, Pennan,
Fraserburgh: 120 cows
“Masculine appearance, conformation, well balanced and not too big a frame
for ease of calving reasons and Breedplan figures. We are just beginning to
use the Breedplan data in particular for ease of calving and we’re finding
that it is working.”
Ronald Smith, Aboyne,
“Conformation in particular with good wide hind quarters, size, length, a
good head with good big ears, and good Breedplan figures, in particular for
weight gain and calving ease.”
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