The first ever shipment of Charolais embryos, amounting to 200 units, has been made to Australia, together with 1,500 straws of Burradon Talisman, sire of the 55,000gns Perth intermediate champion, Thrunton Voldemort.

Burradon Talisman

The 200 embryos, the largest ever export order for British Charolais, were collected from Alsnow, Loganbar and Thornham herds for purchase by leading Queensland breeder, Will Tarry following a visit to the UK earlier this year when he toured a number of herds, explained Sheila Eggleston, of Eggs-Port, who facilitated the deal. “He was seriously impressed by the growth rate, scale, locomotion, calving ease and quality conformation demonstrated by British Charolais cattle and decided he needed to introduce some of those genetics to his newly established herd.”

The 1,500 straw consignment of Burradon Talisman owned by the Campbell family, Ian, John and their father, Colin of Thurnton, Alnwick has been secured by Charolais Society of Australia vice president, Bill Dunlop, of New South Wales. “The Australian Charolais herd has reached the stage where it is seeking new blood,” he commented. “We need to put some more structure and muscularity back in to the breed, and British Charolais can help do that job.”

Mr Dunlop invested in Talisman on a return trip to the UK this season after initially securing 1,200 straws of Goldies Unbeatable whose first crop of calves are already demonstrating ‘terrific structure’, he said. “I saw some of Talisman’s calves and they are the type that will suit the Australian marketplace.”

British Charolais Cattle Society’s David Benson commented: “This is the first of several more shipments of embryos to Australia where Charolais remains the leading Continental terminal sire. Breeders are pleased to have the opportunity, at last, to reintroduce British Charolais genetics which they believe are the right type for the Australian Charolais Herd Book.”

He added: “British beef producers are not alone. Australians farmers are also being squeezed to the bone on price by processors. They too have to get the best return per hectare to remain profitable, so that’s why Charolais naturally fits the bill on weight for age and overall yield.”

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