Ky hills
Well-known member
@Jeanne - Simme Valley its been around 30 years since I was in the thick of the registered Charolais business. I often heard those stories of terrible dispositions in the early years of the breed in the US, and no doubt it was true early on. I can honestly say that overall Charolais have been the easiest and best breed that I have ever worked with. Disposition wise they have both Angus, Hereford beat.This is strickly MY thoughts/opinion and may be obsolete in modern breeding programs:
The breed is known for growth. That's IT. Not good milkers. Bulls have small SC (which I would have to think that means low fertility in females). Used to be poor temperament, but has improved. They do have good bone. Poor marbling breed.
They have your white/light color.
I understand you need to have a more marketable product. Really too bad you MG's are hurting you in the sale barn. You do have some great MG's. Doesn't the Charolais color hurt you in the sale ring? or do buyer's like the smokies?
With most bloodlines of the Charolais I had milking ability wasn't an issue, in fact had to watch the calves close for scours in the spring as the cows gave so much milk. There were exceptions, some of the popular show ring bloodlines of that day looked like they were more Chianina than Charolais and had the height, narrow gut and no milk to go along. Out side of those two hot bloodlines milk wasn't an issue.
At that time birthweights were through the roof and as such would have a dead head slow calf every now and then, but again it was mainly from one of those popular show lines of the time.
A combination of getting a hold of a hard calving bull and the black hided craze got me away from Charolais.
A lot of folks used those lines and as such when I was ending my time with them milk EPD's were the big new trend of the time to try to breed milk back into them.
Back then the breed was heavily influenced by the show ring and a handful of big money movers and shakers set the bar.