The Charolais Society, for many years Ireland’s biggest beef breed continues to attract new members, in fact over two hundred have joined , in the first half of this year. Pedigree registration numbers are also steady and indeed show a slight increase.

Over the past four decades, Charolais cattle have been the leading European beef breed in Ireland. The primary reason for their elevation to the leadership position is simply because they have been the most profitable for commercial beef producers. Profitability is multi-factorial, being driven by:

• Weanling export value,
• Beef carcase value,
• Food conversion efficiency (FCE),
• Daily live weight gain,
• Conformation and meat yield,
• Structural soundness and longevity.

At this years Ploughing Championships the Irish Charolais Society will focus it’s presentations around the above points and particularly their contribution to profitable commercial farming. The better FCE of Charolais cattle alone can be the total profit available to cattle finishers.

The Society’s Yearbook will be launched at the Ploughing. It will have all the up to date information on the breed.

The Society’s members enjoyed a very good spring sale season achieving over 85% clearance at nearly all sales.

Society, sale dates for the Autumn are: Tullamore – 5th November; Ennis – 26th November and the Christmas Cracker (under cover) to end off the year with a bang will be on Saturday 3rd December in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon.