Take for example Rod Ker who runs 130 commercial cows at Justenlees Farm, near Annan. During the past four years he’s found that Charolais leaves progeny that are lively and keen to drink, and they’re well muscled and have that ability to flesh. In fact Rod has an annual turn over of Charolais dairy bred bulls finished within 12 to 14 months at an average 300kgs deadweight and target R specification to achieve an extra 5p/kg over the average weekly market price. In contrast, heifers are reared extensively and depending on the marketplace sold either store or taken through to finishing within 24 months at 300kg deadweight and again grade within the R bracket.

In contrast to other Continental breeds used over the dairy herd, Rod says he’s found Charolais crosses remain resistant to pneumonia and they’ve a good temperament. What’s more they’re easy to calve. "In the last four years we haven’t had a single Caesarian or cow that struggled to calve. Also we’re using a poll Charolais which removes the stress and labour requirements of dehorning," he explains.

"So without a doubt, our Charolais crossbreds are adding value to the enterprise. In fact the margin they’re leaving is sufficient for us to consider it to be cost effective to put more cows to the Charolais and buy in some of our heifer replacements at the current going rate of £750 a head," says Rod who farms the 450 acre unit with his wife Shona, and parents John and Valerie. "That idea could become a serious reality as and when sexed semen becomes commercially available and we’ll be able to cream off the top 40% of the herd for breeding dairy heifer replacements."

For the time being up to 70% of the dairy herd is served to high genetic merit Holsteins, while the remainder – those cows which fail to conceive within the nine week service period are turned out to the Charolais bull. If they don’t get in calf within a certian time then they’re down the road. "Labour is at a premium, and maintaining a tight calving pattern is another way of improving our efficiency," he says.

Charolais cross calves are accommodated in hutches and reared on milk and a home mixed blend to 12 weeks at which point they’re weaned and fed through to finishing on an ad lib balanced diet comprising homegrown barley from some of the unit’s 200 acres of arable; oilseed rape, soya and dark grains. Home grown barley straw for bedding is also readily available. The heifers are winter housed on a grass silage diet, grazed the following season and either sold or finished the following winter on grass silage supplemented with home barley mix.

"We’ve deliberately adopted an easy care system and we minimise inputs wherever possible. For example vet and med among the bulls is negligible, and they never even have to be wormed, and the heifers virtually look after themselves," says Rod.