Charollais sheep in New Zealand

[Devil's advocate]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Strange the uk industry importing various strains from NZ

Wheras New Zealand sheep farmers advised to use Charollais blood to boost production

 

[neilo]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Strange the uk industry importing various strains from NZ

Wheras New Zealand sheep farmers advised to us Charollais blood to boost production

To be fair the NZ genetics that have come over here are more maternal breeds, giving us the opportunity to leapfrog a few generations of hard culling if we wish to go down the increased ‘functionality’ road. I wouldn’t describe any of the imported NZ genetics that I’ve seen as ‘terminal’ in a country that rewards confirmation according to EUROP classification. At best, they could be described as duel purpose imo.

Maybe the kiwis are more interested in a terminal sire that excels in lambing ease and lean meat yield, which is rewarded on their carcass grading more?

 

[andybk]

They have bought a few new UK charollais genetics in the last 5 years , and some strains are doing very well . All lambed outside with only shelter belts , which sorts a few out . The biggest issue has been functionality with imported strains ie sheep that just get on with it with good feet and teeth and good rumens , The uk showring high maintenance types soon get found out. many (most) are recorded on their system . They are looking to widen the genetic base as the originals were a just few strains from aus .

to keep a tab follow murray and nigel on twitter

https://twitter.com/CharollaisRams

https://twitter.com/nigelJay5

and the ponsonby's http://www.charollaisnz.co.nz/

 

[unlacedgecko]

To be fair the NZ genetics that have come over here are more maternal breeds, giving us the opportunity to leapfrog a few generations of hard culling if we wish to go down the increased ‘functionality’ road. I wouldn’t describe any of the imported NZ genetics that I’ve seen as ‘terminal’ in a country that rewards confirmation according to EUROP classification. At best, they could be described as duel purpose imo.

Maybe the kiwis are more interested in a terminal sire that excels in lambing ease and lean meat yield, which is rewarded on their carcass grading more?

focus prime (primera) are NZ terminal.

 

[neilo]

focus prime (primera) are NZ terminal.

And a perfect case in point. They hardly excel on a EUROP grid, and are used for a niche contract with Waitrose. Their only selling point is that they have been selected for higher intramuscular fat levels, which is all achievable with our own breeds with CT scanning, including the breed mentioned by the OP.

 

[Al R]

https://twitter.com/Castlerock_Rams

 

[unlacedgecko]

And a perfect case in point. They hardly excel on a EUROP grid, and are used for a niche contract with Waitrose. Their only selling point is that they have been selected for higher intramuscular fat levels, which is all achievable with our own breeds with CT scanning, including the breed mentioned by the OP.

why breed an animal for outdated and pretty useless EUROP grid when your main market grades by scanner?

 

[neilo]

why breed an animal for outdated and pretty useless EUROP grid when your main market grades by scanner?

Our main market still grades on EUROP though, either directly through dw grading, or via perceptions of buyers in the live mart.
I have no doubt lots would change if/when grading is changed to a meat yield basis, but abattoirs seem unwilling to change. No doubt they have very valid reasons for doing so.