William and David Moir

Charolais | Breed Society Focus
The BCCS has been forward thinking
with parentage testing and since
switching to testing using SNP
technology in 2017 all animals going
to sales are at least sire verified and
myostatin tested, with a large percentage
going to sale now Fully Sire and Dam
verified. Since bringing in the programme
of testing all females and all sires on
registration of first calf, the Society has
collected enough DNA profiles to launch
single step analysis in the near future,
which should increase the accuracy on
EBVs for bulls which have not yet sired
any progeny.
In concluding Andrew Sellick, believes
the Society continues to fulfil its 75-yearold
vision. “Charolais buyers today can
buy with confidence in pedigree and
performance, and every buyer can find a
bull that suits their farming method and
system.
At a time when input costs are spiralling,
margins are being squeezed and
farm payments are being reduced,
commercial breeders can take every
possible reassurance that the Charolais
will help give them a significantly greater
return on their investment, and a brighter
prospect of a sustainable future for their
farm, their family, and the British beef
industry.
AUTUMN 2023 | The National Beef Association Magazine 39