Gower Blingbling is the latest Charolais bull to be selected for the EBLEX's Young Bull Promotion Scheme, following nomination by the British Charolais Cattle Society.

The scheme's aim is to promote rapid genetic progress within a pedigree beef herd by encouraging the use of younger bulls to reduce generation intervals and to improve genetic selection differentials, says EBLEX's Liz Genever.

"These benefits extend to the commercial herd through greater availability of high genetic potential terminal sires for profitable beef production. I would encourage all eligible herds to make us of the free YBPS semen available to them through the society."

Breeding values

Gower Blingbling ranks within the breeds top 10% for most breeding values. He has a TI of +31, an SRI of +38 and a score for both 400 day weights at +54 and +7.6 for daughters calving ease.

Bred by Richard and Alison Tucker, Gower, Swansea, Gower Blingbling is by Jumper, a trait leader for 200 day, 400 day and 600 day weights, and out of Gower Negligee, a homebred dam from their 30 cow herd who has consistently proved to be easy calving.

BCCS chief executive, David Benson, says "Blingbling was selected for the scheme primarily on his performance records which are complemented by his physical correctness."