Calf producers looking to number-crunch now.Byline: Karen Dent COMMERCIAL suckled calf producers are increasingly likely to study the performance data when searching for a new bull, according to the Border Charolais Club. The group said that farmers are now looking at the statistics as well as the overall type of bull when trying to find a new terminal sire for their herd. Club secretary Sophie Bell said: "They are using the data as a back-up tool to help make more a informed decision. "Our breeders are meeting this demand by using Breedplan, the society's combined registration and genetic evaluation system to help them identify more easily easy calving calving act of parturition in a bovine female, and presumably in any animal that bears a calf as its newborn. See also block calving, ease of calving. calving-to-conception interval cattle without sacrificing the Charolais breed's two most noted traits, daily liveweight gain and conformation con·for·ma·tion n. One of the spatial arrangements of atoms in a molecule that can come about through free rotation of the atoms about a single chemical bond. ." Analysis of the 83 bulls entered in the Charolais society's official autumn sales at Borderway Mart in Carlisle on October 9 shows that more than 65% will be performance recorded in the breed's top 10%, said Ms Bell, who is based near Brampton. The club takes in farmers from Northumberland and Cumbria. The bulls and 51 females going under the hammer at the sale will be judged by Welsh Charolais expert Richard Tucker, who sits on the society's council of management. He said he will be looking out for the bulls that will be most suited to commercial farmers' needs. "Firstly, they must demonstrate the potential to stamp their off spring with good growth rates Growth Rates The compounded annualized rate of growth of a company's revenues, earnings, dividends, or other figures. Notes: Remember, historically high growth rates don't always mean a high rate of growth looking into the future. and conformation. They must also demonstrate good muscularity and locomotion locomotion Any of various animal movements that result in progression from one place to another. Locomotion is classified as either appendicular (accomplished by special appendages) or axial (achieved by changing the body shape). and have plenty of breed character and style," said Mr Tucker. "Commercial suckler men are this season enjoying an unprecedented demand for their calves driven by finishers seeking cattle with good weight for age, particularly since slaughter age limits have been lifted and they now want to take cattle to heavier weights, because that weight means money. "Charolais crosses provide the answer, achieving that extra growth within the shortest period of time." However, research by the English Beef and Lamb Executive The English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) is part of the United Kingdom Meat and Livestock Commission and promotes assured quality beef and lamb. It defines its role as being "to contribute to the long-term profitability and sustainability of the English beef and lamb industries produced ahead of the publication of its Business Pointers later this month, showed suckler producers are continuing to suffer low profitability. It blamed higher input costs, including feed prices and energy costs for the problem. The figures showed that beef finishers, however, are increasingly moving towards profitability. CAPTION(S): FAST GROWERS Charolais cattle are the answer for many suckled calf producers, from their impressive statistics, says the Border Charolais Club. |
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