Charolais heifers

Specifications of Charolais heifers

  • Age pregnant heifers: between 24-32 months at time of calving
  • Age open heifers: 6-12 months
  • Pedigree registered
  • Beef production

Charolais History

The Charolais livestock / cattle breed is one of the oldest French cattle / livestock breeds, and has found its origin in Charolais Brionnais (France). A cattle breeder named Claude Mathieu, from the Charolais Brionnais region, moved together with his whole Charolais herd, in 1773 to the Nevere province.

The breed cattle / livestock became known as the Nivernais breed, a crossing of Durham and Charolais breeds. In Charolais-Brionnais, the breeders stick to pure race breeding. The Durham livestock / cattle, compact and short legs is seen as an example for the Charolais livestock / cattle to copy.

Due to the crossbreeding, the animals are ready to be slaughtered faster, one year is gained. Instead of at 3 years of age, the Charolais is ready now after 2 years of fattening, and producing more meat.

After 1850 breeders go back to the pure bred Charolais livestock / cattle, since the crossbreeds are getting too fat. French breeders however have tasted the pleasure of breeding by selecting bulls with good characteristics and Charolais livestock / cattle develops into a beautiful animal, bigger and rapidly ripe to slaughter. Charolais livestock / cattle are praised for their carcass’ high yield and good quality meat. Their intramuscular fat also contributes to excellent edible quality in their beef cuts.

During the 18th century the Charolais livestock / cattle were spread to other parts of France as well. Mr Charles de Bouille started breeding in 1840 with his herd of Charolais cattle / livestock.

He is the founder of the Charolais Herdbook in 1864 in Villars, close to Magny-Cours. Other breeders of Charolais cattle / livestock founded another herdbook in 1882 in the area of Charolais, France. Both herdbooks united in 1919 with headquarters at Nevers, France.
After introducing the official herdbook Charolais, it is seriously taken care of to select the right characteristics to build even better Charolais livestock / cattle. Only livestock / cattle meeting the right requirements are admitted in the herdbook.

In 1918-1919, Mr. Jean Pugibet imported some Charolais livestock / cattle from France to his farm in Mexico. He was convinced of their meat quality and productivity.

The first exports of Charolais livestock / cattle from Mexico to the United States of America took place in 1934. From that moment, the population of Charolais livestock / cattle grew instantly. Farmers were impressed by Charolais bulls and females for their muscling, correctness and size. Even the Charolais calves made an impression!

The characteristics of the Charolais livestock / cattle are that they have a good quality of rearing and of course the great meat they produce. In the early days, the Charolais were also used as labour-livestock / cattle. Around 1900 the labour-activity stopped and the Charolais livestock / cattle were used only for their meat. The exterior of the Charolais has been looking great from the beginning. The livestock / cattle spent most of the time in the fields, only a few months during the year they were kept inside. The Charolais breed won many prizes in shows in Paris and other places where agricultural shows were taking place.

Not only meat production and exterior are features which are looked at, also nursery quality, calving ease, muscle development are Charolais qualities.

In other countries of the world the Charolais is also doing excellent. The race adapts easily to heat and cold, extreme weather is no problem, humidity, insects and illnesses are much better taken by the Charolais as other more delicate races.
Improving both lactating and dairy breeds, adapting to all climates and all farming conditions, it has established itself as the first global breed of cattle.

Today, Charolais livestock / cattle are found in more than 70 countries, divided over all continents.

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