Charollais in New Zealand

Charollais at Lincoln University, New Zealand

Over the past 2 years Nigel Jay at Lincoln University Department of Agricultural Science has used Charollais semen over Coopworth ewes farmed at Ashton Dene.  
In Nigel’s words; “The signs at this stage are positive and we are impressed with how the first cross Charollais has performed”.  The average birth weight of lambs was 5.5 kgs and the Charollais x lambs grew much faster than the pure Coopworth lambs.   110 more Coopworth ewes are due to lamb to Charollais rams at Ashton Dene in September 2011.  

Viascan revealed that Charollais x Coopworth lambs have significantly more muscle in the loin and hind quarter and that 96% of all Charollais x Coopworth male lambs born met the yield grading threshold.  
Ian McDougall of Charollais Australia commented “While we are very happy with these viascan results we know that they will improve significantly into the future.  Our 2010 drop Charollais rams carry more muscle in the loin and hindquarter, semen from these rams will be available in New Zealand for the 2012 breeding season”.