Breeding company acquires top-class pedigree Charolais bull (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Breeding company acquires top-class pedigree Charolais bull

3:25pm Friday 1st February 2013 in Farming

A CHAROLAIS bull that was hotly tipped to lead the bidding at the February Stirling Bull Sales has been bought by Cogent Breeding.

The withdrawal of Alwent Goldbar – from County Durham breeder Steven Nesbitt – means his elite genetics will now be available to the widest possible crosssection of Charolais breeders and commercial beef producers.

Boomer Birch, Cogent beef specialist who sourced him for the stud, said: “This bull is right at the top of the Charolais breed. I’d seen his estimated breeding values and knew they alone made him something special, but when I saw the bull himself I knew I had to pull out all the stops to acquire him for use in AI.

“Genetics like this do not come along very often, and Goldbar not only has figures that rank him in the top one per cent of the Charolais breed, but he also has unbelievable physical appearance, is put together correctly in every way and has fantastic breed character.”

Goldbar also has a soughtafter pedigree. He is a son of Blelack Digger and out of Alwent Daffodil, who comes from the same family as the record-breaking 70,000 guinea Barnesford Ferny.

Breeder Steven Nesbitt, who farms with his brother and father at Alwent Hall Farm, Winston, near Darlington, said: “Goldbar is without doubt the best bull we have ever bred. His dam, Alwent Daffodil, is an easy fleshing animal with terrific growth, and when she scanned exceptionally well, we decided to flush her as a maiden heifer.

“Goldbar is the first son to result from this flush and is a combination of two genetically outstanding animals.”

Highlights of Goldbar’s EBVs include +69 and +81 for 400 and 600 day weights respectively, +7.5 eye muscle area, +4.2 retail beef yield and +84 terminal index, all of which are in the top one per cent for the Charolais breed.

Mr Birch said Goldbars self replacing index of +77 is also in the breed’s top one per cent.

“I’d expect him to produce outstanding suckler herd replacements as well as the next generation of elite sires,” he said.

“Goldbar’s use in commercial, suckler and bullbreeding herds is therefore assured and I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure the Charolais breed’s most elite genetics for widespread use across the UK and internationally, where I believe he will provide the modernday beef industry with just the product it needs.”