Charolais cattle facts for kids
Cow and calf
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not at risk |
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| Other names | French: Charolaise |
| Country of origin | France |
| Distribution | world-wide |
| Use | beef |
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| Coat | white [2] |
| Horn status | horned in both sexes |
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The Charolais or Charolaise is a French breed of taurine beef cattle. It originates in, and is named for, the Charolais area surrounding Charolles, in the département of Saône-et-Loire, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. Charolais are raised for meat; they may be crossed with other breeds, including Angus and Hereford cattle.
Contents
History
The Charolais is the second-most numerous cattle breed in France after the Holstein and is the most common beef breed in that country, ahead of the Limousin. At the end of 2014, France had 4.22 million head of Charolais, including 1.56 million cows, down 0.6% from a year earlier. The Charolais is a world breed: it is reported to DAD-IS by 68 countries, of which 37 report population data. The world population is estimated at about 730,000. The largest populations are reported from the Czech Republic and Mexico.
The breed was introduced to the southern United States from Mexico in 1934.
As the cradle of the Charolais cattle, the Charolais-Brionnais Country is applicant for UNESCO's label as a World Heritage Site to preserve, consolidate and transmit this resource.
Characteristics
It is among the heaviest of cattle breeds: bulls weigh from 1,000 to 1,650 kg (2,200 to 3,600 lb), and cows from 700 to 1,200 kg (1,500 to 2,600 lb). The coat ranges from white to cream-coloured; the nose is uniformly pink.
Use
The Charbray, a cross-breed with Brahman cattle, is recognised as a breed in some countries. The Brazilian Canchim is a composite breed with 5/8 Charolais and 3/8 Indu-Brasil. Other derived breeds include Charford and Char-Swiss in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Charolesa para niños
