A North-East herd of Charolais has been named the most improved during 2007-08.
The Ravensworth herd is owned by Snowdon Oates of Gateshead, and has been recognised by the EBLEX Beef Better Returns Programme (Beef BRP).
Out of all the Charolais recorded herds it showed the most improvement to its genetic merit over during the 12-month period.
Mr Oates’ father imported some of the first Charolais cattle into this country, along with Simmental, Blonde D’Aquitaine, MRI and several other breeds.
In the 1980’s pedigree Simmental and Blonde D’Aquitaine herds were run alongside the Charolais but since 2001 the focus has purely been on the Charolais.
The 700 acre arable and grass farm lies on Gateshead’s urban fringe. The cattle are managed as a part-time enterprise and looked after by Mr Oates, farm manager Bill Wannop, and stockman Ian Wilkinson.
Calving is twice a year - 35 in spring and 35 in autumn - which produces a supply of 15 to 20 young bulls to sell at spring and autumn sales, including Perth and Carlisle. The bulls weigh around 1000kg at sale. The best animals, judged on physical stature and their performance records at 10 to 12 months of age, are retained to sell for breeding.
Any males not hitting the mark are finished and sold at around 700kg through Darlington market, where they regularly top the trade.
Mr Oates said: "We try to produce pedigree bulls with good figures and of a type that commercial beef producers are looking for.
"After all, if the hammer doesn’t go down the bull doesn’t sell. We have to supply what the buyer wants."
The herd is also undergoing blood testing and surveillance so it can join the SAC Premium Health Scheme.
"It focuses on being free of BVD and Johnes Disease and this is what our customers are increasingly asking for," said Mr Oates.
When buying bulls to serve his own cows, Mr Oates assesses their physical characteristics first, and then scrutinises their breeding records and Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).
The traits he is most interested in are calving ease, growth, depth of eye muscle and overall carcase quality.
Mr Oatges said: "We find EBVs extremely useful when trying to identify bulls that will take our herd forward in the key areas we have identified.
"We are also finding that many of our customers are using figures and EBVs now, to back up what they see by eye."
Mr Oates believes the most improved herd award was down to a particularly good bull called Holly Mount Vagabond which he bought at Carlisle in 2006, where he was reserve overall champion.
He has a good pedigree and has introduced a new bloodline into the herd. Mr Oates has been very impressed with the performance of the calves he has sired so far.
Samuel Boon, EBLEX breeding specialist, agrees.
He said: "Selecting genetically superior breeding stock, using tools such as EBVs, will enhance many economically important traits such as growth rates and muscle depth in calves, and maternal traits such as ease of calving and milking ability in cows.
"Mr Oates’ philosophy of buying in the best possible genetics is proving an excellent and speedy way of producing high quality breeding stock, and finished animals that attain premium prices at sale."
