Prime Lamb Sire

The Ideal Prime Lamb Sire

Charollais are the Ideal Prime Lamb Sire for a whole host of reasons.

Active and fertile rams

Charollais rams are renowned for being hard-working.  They reach sexually maturity from 7 months of age and will work for most of the year.   Most Charollais rams will work for 5-6 seasons.  Farms and research projects in Britain have found that Charollais rams sire more lambs than other terminal sires working together at the same time – better lovers??

Very easy lambing = more lambs tailed

Charollais rams will without question give shepherds (and ewes) easier lambing.  The skeletal structure of the breed; without heavy bone, broad shoulders or big heads makes lambing a joy.  First time users of the breed cannot believe how easy birth is with the breed.    

Robust and vigorous lambs at birth

Lambs are straight up on their feet, bleating and ready to suckle.  The trouble-free birth ensures they are not stressed and the nature of the breed means they ‘get up and go’.

Long carcass with great loin and hindquarter.

Charollais have a long carcass, a wide deep loin and good hind quarter confirmation which equates to lambs that are well-fleshed and weigh much heavier than they look. 
This all helps to improve the dressing out % which is close to 50%.

Quality carcass when taken to heavy weights

Charollais are not super lean like some Texel strains but lean enough to be taken to 25-30 kgs carcass weight whilst still not being over fat.  Charollais have a good amount of intramuscular fat which enhances the eating quality of the lamb.  Comments from diners at Café Catalpa assures us of the great eating experience of Charollais lamb across a wide range of carcass weights.

Clean on the points

Charollais are clean in the head and points meaning less grass seed problems.  The majority have a wide bare breech which assists in reducing fly strike problems.

Rapid growth rate

Growth rates for Charollais cross lambs are excellent.   Single lambs can achieve weights of 40kg in just 8 weeks .

Great eating

Charollais lamb is served at Café Catalpa on a regular basis and is sought after by clientele.  Early indications are that Charollais lamb has good levels of intramuscular fat without having high levels of subcutaneous fat meaning tender meat that does not appear to be over fat.