top of page

Slovakia

Charolais is one of the most popular specialized beef breeds in Slovakia. The first contact of Slovak breeders with Charolais was in  the early 1970s, when Charolais was artificially inseminated in Slovak Simmental cows to improve beef production. Since that time, Charolais has a reputation of improving beef production but not without calving difficulties.

Charolais is mostly used in crossing with Simmental mothers for meat production in middle high latitude.

The first import (1992) of frozen embryos from North America provided the base of the first polled Charolais herd in Western Slovakia.  Many sires and semen from France, Hungary and Czech Republic were imported in the early 90s. The second import of 51 heifers (French type) was done in 1994 from Hungary. Other French Charolais heifers from France and Czech Republic were imported after 1998. Many sires and semen from France, Hungary and Czech Republic were imported in early 90s. On the basis of these imports and embryo transfers, several herds were established. The herdbook contained 819 purebred cows in 2008. Currently, the herdbook has registered more than 9000 purebred Charolais cows. Polled has become one of the most important non-productive traits, however, the French type, with more muscle and smaller frame, has become more popular than polled.

Charolais breeders are organized within the Slovak Beef Breeders Association which was established in May 1994.

The system of beef performance recording (measure weight at age of birth, 120, 210 and 365 days) is carried out by Biological Services of Slovak Republic. Breeding values, assessed by BLUP Animal Model, are published four times per year (http://www.plis.sk/volne/hd/v_hd_mas_plem/v_hd_mas_plem.aspx).

bottom of page