I've never seen any Angus promotional material printed that supports Limflex or Balancer. That noise is created by the Gelbvieh and Limousine Associations.
The Charolais Assoc absolutely did NOT keep track of what breeds were used in the upgrading program. An individual was recorded with their Charolais percentage ONLY. Hell, most of the females used were typical crossbred cows with unknown origin. The importation of the FULLBLOODS was a huge deal in the States. There's not, that I know of, anything nowadays that can compare. My grandpa tells me of people waiting in line for hours just to see some BAYARD sons on display. Most cattlemen had never seen anything like these 3 thousand lb bulls before. They were bred to anything and everything in a hysteria to try and increase the #s of Charolais cattle. It takes 5 crosses to achieve Purebred status for bulls. 4 for females.
To get rid of the Brahman influence??? w/o that influence, the Char breed would have never gained the notoriety it did. The Brahman influence is responsible for DRASTICALLY lowering their birthweights, increasing milk production, and giving them a hide that can tolerate MEXICO and the South- Some of the early imports had hair like the Galloways. Now you see slick headed, polled, easier doing cattle. Look at some of the Full French bulls still bred over there today- you'll see the noticeable haircoat difference. The success Mexico had with the imported Charolais in the 40-50s is what started the frenzy here in the bordering states. Quarantine?? Those bulls were being pushed across the river as fast as they could get em. You're right most of the bulls that were quarantined in Canada and used up there prolly have very little if any Brahman in them (AND THATS WHY THOSE LINES STILL HAVE THE HUGE BWs), but the overwhelming # of Chars that were in use in that time period were either smuggled from Mexico or Quarantined there and brought over legally. What breed do you think they were using in Mexico to upgrade with?
SmokesRule said:
off topic, but why where they mixing brahmers into the Charolais back in the day?
Beau
Beau,
During the late 60s- Fullblood Chars were being imported to the states. Because of their rarity and lack of shear numbers, The AICA opened the herd book to allow an upgrading program. Because these Fullbloods were from the Alps, they were terribly unacclimated to the weather here in the South. The Brahman was the breed of choice- Though everybreed under the sun was used- including a lot of hereford( hereford dominated as far as numbers go in this time period). The crossbreds were "Recorded" in the record books until they reached their required status of "purebred" From here they could now be "Registered"
Here's a pic of my Grandpa and mom with his New Fullblood bull. Ada, Ok 1969
Thanks for the info and the pic! You learn something new everyday....