New Charolais sire selected for Young Bull Promotion Scheme
11/04/05

Maerdy Tally is the latest Charolais bull to be selected for the Meat and Livestock Commission's Young Bull Promotion Scheme following nomination by the British Charolais Cattle Society's council of management.

The bull meets the scheme's criteria with a Beef Value within the top 10% of the breed. Semen has been collected by BCCS and five straws are available free of charge to at least 20 different herds. To be eligible, they must be members of Signet's Beef Breeder service.

MLC's Mary Browne comments: “The aim of the scheme is to promote rapid genetic progress within the pedigree beef herd by reducing generation intervals and improved genetic selection differentials. These benefits extend to the commercial herd through greater availability of high genetic potential terminal sires for profitable beef production.” She adds: “I would encourage all eligible herds to make use of the free YBPS semen available to them through the society.”

Maerdy Tally ranks within the breed's top 10% for most breeding values. He has a Beef Value of CH31, an exceptional EBV for muscle score of 1.3, and muscle depth of 3.8 and a 400 day weight of 61.

Bred by Esmor Evans, Mold, Flintshire, he is by the 16,000gns Perth champion Maerdy Naser, a son of the noted Maerdy Grimaldi and out of the homebred Maerdy Rivulet who goes back to Maerdy Nonno. Tally secured the reserve intermediate championship at Carlisle in May 2004 where he changed hands for 7,000gns to breed newcomer, Jan Boomars, of Woldingham, Surrey.

“We are pleased another Charolais bull has been selected for the latest YBPS which is designed to promote rapid genetic improvement by reduced generation intervals and improved selection differential,” says BCCS chief executive, David Benson. “Tally was selected for the scheme primarily on his performance records which are complemented by his physical correctness and also his pedigree strength. Maerdy Naser's sons are already proving to be successful; they include the 34,000gns February 2005 Perth champion, Goldies Uppermost. “

 He adds: “We're confident that Tally will complement and build on the success of previous YBPS Charolais bulls by leaving progeny that are easily calved, and with good length and depth of loin, and very milky heifers.”