Working with ICBF, the Irish Charolais Society operate a new breed improvement programme, termed G€N€ IRELAND.  The objectives of the G€N€ IRELAND scheme is to improve the breed through; 

1. Young bull selection.  Each year, young bulls will be selected for the G€N€ IRELAND program, based on a combination of genetic indexes, linear inspection (relative to the goals of our breed) and genetic diversity.
2. Performance Test.  Bulls meeting the above requirements will then be performance tested at Tully, with the best of these animals progressing to a potential progeny test.
3. Progeny Test.  Bulls on progeny test will be evaluated for all traits of economic importance to beef farmers notably; calving, weanling, slaughter and maternal value.
4. Proven AI Bulls.  Based on the outcome of the progeny test, a number of elite proven bulls will be returned each year into our breed.  These will then become the sires of the next generation of stock bulls and replacement females.

LINEAR SCORING AND WEIGHT RECORDING

1. All eligible animals must be Scored AND Weighed.  Only sick/injured animals may be excluded at the discretion of the Scorer.
2. Eligible Animals are those between 150 – 300 days old
3. Minimum group size is 5 – but it can include different Pedigree Breeds
4. A group of 5 should preferably be by 2 different Sires
5. Commercials with know Sires may be included
6. There is a maximum of 3 visits per Breeder per year.

If the above rules are not complied with OR IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN THE MINIMUM GROUP OF 5 your Scores and Weights CANNOT be included in your BLUP and €uro-Star Figures.

GROW STAMP

The “Grow Stamp” has been developed in order to identify pedigree animals in the Charolais Society’s Sales Catalogues that are Weighed and Scored.

FACILITES REQUIRED

-   Crush for weighing scales.  The weighing scales measures 2ft 2 inches wide
-   Washing facilities to disinfect equipment afterwards

WHEN SHOULD I SCORE & WEIGH MY CATTLE?

Maximum of 3 visits per Breeder per year.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

WHO DO I CALL?

ICBF SCORERS

BULL PERFORMANCE TESTING

Central performance testing is an important component of the National Programme for the Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle.  It is carried out by ICBF at Tully, Co. Kildare.  Performance testing involves the bringing together of selected bulls from several herds and their evaluation under uniform conditions of feeding, housing and management in order to identify the genetically superior bulls.

Bulls for testing at Tully are selected from pedigree herds. Selections are made on the basis of €uro-star values and genetic diversity within the breed.  Bulls enter the test station at approximately 6 months of age.  They are penned in groups of five or six.  They are fed adlibitum and their feed intake is individually recorded.  The ration used consists of barley, grass and soya bean meal suitably supplemented with minerals and vitamins.

Growth rate and feed conversion are the primary trails measured.  Growth rate, based on adjusted final weight at about 400 days and feed conversion efficiency, adjusted for variation in weight at start of test, are published for each bull.  Eye muscle area and back fat depth are also ultrasonically recorded to provide an estimate of beef carcase merit.  An index of overall genetic merit is published for each bull.  This value combines as bulls performance for growth, feed conversion efficiency, carcase merit and visual assessment into a single index of overall economic worth.

The current charge for testing a Charolais bull is €600.  Members are asked to put forward their best bulls.  Application forms and full details are available from: the Charolais Office.