Charolais cattle
Encyclopedia
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
(Bos taurus) which originated in Charolais, around Charolles
Charolles
Charolles is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Geography:Charolles is located at the confluence of the Semence and the Arconce rivers, . W.N.W. of Mâcon.-History:...
, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They are raised for their meat and are known for their composite qualities when crossed with other breeds, most notably Angus
Angus cattle
Angus cattle are a breed of cattle much used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world....
and Hereford cattle. The breed tends to be large muscled, with bulls weighing up to 1100 kilograms (2,425.1 lb) and cows up to 900 kilograms (1,984.2 lb).
The breed was introduced in the southern US as early as the 1940s. It was the first popular breed after the English breeds and Brahmans
Brahman (cattle)
The Brahman or Brahma is a breed of Zebu cattle , later exported from India to the rest of the world. The main breeds used were Kankrej, Gujurat, Nelore or Ongole and the Gir or Gyr cattle...
. It was known to produce beef animals that had more red meat and less fat. The breed was often crossed with English breeds.
In the 1970s Charolais crossbred steers won a number of prominent steer and carcase shows particularly in Texas. The first Charolais steer to win a carcase show was at the San Antonio Livestock Show in 1971.
This breed has been quite popular in the Top End
Top End
The Top End of northern Australia is the second northernmost point on the continent. It covers a rather vaguely-defined area of perhaps 400,000 square kilometres behind the northern coast from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin across to Arnhem Land with the Indian Ocean on the west, the...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where they are used for cross breeding. It has also become popular in the southern United States, where Charolais (often crossed with other breeds) have increasingly replaced Herefords.
The coat is almost pure white. The Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n and Canadian breed standards also recognise cattle possessing a light red colour called 'Red Factor' Charolais. The term Charbray refers to the offspring of Charolais crossed with Brahmans
Brahman (cattle)
The Brahman or Brahma is a breed of Zebu cattle , later exported from India to the rest of the world. The main breeds used were Kankrej, Gujurat, Nelore or Ongole and the Gir or Gyr cattle...
and is recognised as a breed in its own right.
Breed associations
- Official website of the Charolais Society Australia
- Official website of the American-International Charolais Association
- Official website of the Canadian Charolais Association
External links
- History of the Charolais Breed - Oklahoma State University
- Charolais Cattle - Cattle.com