ChazCompare – Top Charollais sires continue to produce impressive results within their commercial flock assessment.

ChazCompare is jointly managed by Andrew Walton and Jamie Wild, two pedigree Charollais breeders working together to progeny test large number of their own rams, through collecting data from birth through to the abattoir. Jamie farms in Rutland and runs a large commercial flock of North Country Mules in which a range of highly ranked performance recorded sires, predominantly Charollais breed, are put on test along alongside a linkage ram used through artificial insemination to link their data to other farms within the RamCompare project. Ewes are lambed indoors in March and are finished quickly from grass during June and July

Through ChazCompare Jamie and Andrew continue to progeny test their high genetic merit Charollais stock sires. Each year a greater number of sires are tested, whilst maintaining high progeny number groups.

Carcase conformation was a major influence on lamb value for this year’s lamb crop, creating a clear divide in the sires on test at this farm. Three sires stood out, where these high-ranking rams sired lambs which achieved greater prices across the board, generating more than £3 per head additional income.

Key message

Collecting progeny data and using this to make informed breeding decisions within pedigree flocks combined with marketing genetics pays dividends for these two Charollais breeders.