A NORTH Yorkshire farm is supplying the foundation stock for the first pedigree Charolais herd in Romania.

Mike and Margaret Atkinson own the noted Mowbraypark Herd at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

Romanian businessman Michael Mirran, who owns a ten-square-mile farm in Alba, visited their farm and snapped up Mowbraypark Acclaim, an 18 month-old bull, and Mowbraypark Airhostess, an 18 month-old heifer. They were due to be exported this week, ahead of a consignment of 100 other pedigree heifers Mr Mirran has bought from British herds.

Mr Atkinson was delighted with the order and said: "It will provide a real chance for Romanians to enhance their beef sector, initially for home consumption, and eventually to develop the export market."

He described Acclaim as an "easy fleshed, well muscled bull" whose estimated breeding value is in the breed's top one per cent, with a beef value of CH37. He is by Mowbraypark Paramount, the couple's senior herd sire, who also sired the 24,000gns Mowbraypark Torpedo and 17,000gns Mowbraypark Umpire.

The plan is for Acclaim to stand in Romania and for his semen to be distributed via a new European-funded scheme to help beef farmers start improving their commercial herds.

Mr Atkinson said the new market presented a good opportunity for British breeders. "The Romanians have identified the Charolais breed and its superior performance potential and quiet temperament to improve their native herd of cross bred suckler cattle," he said. "Our modern British Charolais were preferred to establish the herdbook simply because of their scale, muscling and length."

Mr Atkinson said: "A vast market is opening up in Eastern Europe and beyond for British Charolais genetics, both for live animals and embryos."

The deal with Mr Mirran was brokered by Northern Agriculture, a genetics and consultancy company based in East Yorkshire, and supported by Yorkshire Forward, a joint Defra, MLC and EBLEX-funded regional initiative. A joint venture has been established between the two parties to enhance Romania's beef and sheep sector with UK genetics and meat marketing.