Charollais rams are renowned for being hard working.
They reach sexual maturity from 7 months of age and will work for most of
the year.
Farms and research projects have found that Charollais rams sire more lambs
than other terminal sires working at the same time.
Shearling Rams at Grange Farm, born March 2008 (14 months old)
Sired by Foulrice Dunamis
Growth rates for Charollais cross lambs are excellent.
Their length, wide loin and good hind quarter confirmation mean heavy, well-fleshed
lambs.
Single lambs can achieve weights of 40kg in just 8 weeks.
We are intent on breeding rams that are genetically capable of producing
the fastest growth rate and highest lean meat percentage in their progeny.
In order to achieve this we have set about purchasing Rams that we consider carry these qualities and have some of the highest EBV's in the breed.
KILL SHEETS
A: Cull Ewes 22/5/09
|
Net weight kg
|
Classification
|
|
39.5
|
U3L
|
|
44.0
|
U3H
|
|
42.5
|
U3H
|
|
36.5
|
U3L
|
B: New season lamb 12/6/09
|
Net weight kg
|
Classification
|
|
25.0
|
E3L
|
|
26.0
|
U3L
|
|
25.0
|
U3L
|
|
27.0
|
E3L
|
FOULRICE DUNAMIS
This ram was the sire to our March 2008 born lambs and was a Gold Award winning
Ram Lamb in 2003 at the Worcester Premier Sale and on the day sold for 2,700gns.
CASTELLAU HOB NOB (DOB 21/12/06)
We purchased this ram at the 2008 Worcester Premier Sale for 3,400gns where
he was placed 3rd. His Dam has produced progeny sold for in excess of £30,000.
He is the sire to Grange Ram Lambs which were born in December 2008; he has
since served all of our Ewes which are due to lamb in December 2009.
Ram Lambs at Grange Farm born December 2008 (6 months old)
Sire Castellau Hob Nob
COLD HARBOUR HEARTBEAT (DOB 5/12/06)
Breed Index of 500 - The highest rated Ram Lamb in the National Charollais
Breeding Evaluation 2007.
Purchased privately. He has now served all of the Grange Charollais Shearling
Ewes which are due to lamb in December 2009.
LOWERYE IS A GOOD'UN (DOB 6/12/2007)
Breed Index 488 - The highest indexed Ram Lamb in 2008, with the 3rd highest
growth rate, he also carried a copy of the *MyoMAX gene.
Purchased at the Worcester Premier Sale for 3000gns, and half share sold be
to Neil Oughton.
He has been used this year to serve the Grange Charollais Ewe Lambs, due to
lamb December 2009.
*MyoMAX gene
MyoMAX is a DNA test for a gene which increases a lamb's carcase weight and
muscle yield. Sheep identified with the MyoMAX effect have increased muscling
in the leg and loin, less carcase fat and an improved carcase weight compared
to non-MyoMAX animals of the same live-weight and genetic background.
The MyoMAX effect can be passed on to lambs by the ram, ewe or both parents.
A lamb that received 1 copy of the gene will have 5% more muscling in the
leg and loin and 7% less carcase fat.
REPORT FROM WORCESTER PREMIER SALE, JUNE 28TH 2008
"Topping the Shearling trade was the Castellau Flock. Taking Castellau
Hob Nob at 3,400gns was a new breeder, Mr Christopher Hawes from Bicester,
Oxon. Mr Hawes recently purchased an entire Charollais flock and also made
further purchases to expand the new flock to over 100 breeding ewes. He was
also purchaser of the highest indexed sheep on offer on the day; Neil Oughton's
ram lamb, Lowerye Is A Good'Un achieved the highest breed index for 2008 at
488 and was sired by sire reference ram, Dalby Galactico. Mr Hawes purchased
a 50% share for the tup for 1,500gns, with the Lowerye flock retaining the
other half."
CHAROLLAIS RAMS
