The Irish Charolais Cattle Society has launched a suckler competition to identify the top-performing herds using Charolais genetics. The competition is open to commercial and pedigree herds and aims to highlight genetics that are breeding well in the suckler cow population and, through promoting these breed lines, increase their usage in suckler enterprises.

The competition is being split into two categories – herds with 25 cows and under and herds with 26 cows or over. The national winner in each category will receive a €2,000 voucher towards the purchase of a Charolais bull or heifer in a society sale within the next three years. Runners-up will receive a €1,500 voucher. On completion of the competition, national farm walks will also be held on the farms of the overall winners.

Entry criteria

Nevan McKiernan, breed development officer with the society, outlined details of the competition at a recent meeting of the Galway Charolais Club.

The competition is open to all suckler herds that use Charolais sires, either through AI or stock bull, as their main sire breed. Cows in the herd must also be predominately Charolais cross, although Nevan said this can be compensated for where sire usage is 100% Charolais.

Applicants are asked to submit a maximum 200-word profile of their herd. Associated information which may benefit their entry such as copies of profit monitor analysis, recent suckler cow reports or mart/factory sales dockets, for example, should be submitted with the application.

Entry form

The entry form, available at www.charolais.ie, and associated information can be submitted by email to Nevan at nevan.charolais@gmail.com or sent by post to Irish Charolais Cattle Society, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.

Approximately 20 farms will be selected, based on documentation submitted, for an on-farm visit by a panel of judges.

Neven says applicants will be judged on the application form and any associated documentation, the quality of stock and overall performance of the farm. The closing date for applications is 30 May 2015.