AICA offers additional marketing opportunities for producers

Published on March 21, 2020

Charolais cattle originated in the old French provinces of Charolles and Nievre and these white cattle were generally confined to the area in which they originated until the French Revolution. 

            In 1773, Claude Mathieu, a farmer and cattle producer from Charolles moved to Nievre with his herd of white cattle, where the breed flourished. 

            One of the early influential herds in the region was established by Count Charles de Bouille in 1840. His selective breeding led him to set up a herd book in 1864. In 1882, breeders in Charolles established a herd book. 

            In 1919, the two societies merged and established their headquarters at Nevers, the capital of Nievre. 

            After World War II, the Charolais breed made its appearance in other parts of the world. In fact, in 1950 four bulls and six females were exported to Brazil and one bull and three females were exported in 1955 to South Africa followed by three bulls and 15 females in 1956. 

AICA

            According to the American- nternational Charolais Association’s (AICA) website, the first Charolais came into the U.S. from Mexico in 1934. 

“From there the breed grew rapidly. Wherever they were shown, they commanded instant attention,” states the website.

“Producers admired both Charolais bulls and females for their muscling, correctness and size. They were also impressed with their calves. An ever-expanding demand for purebred seedstock kept an active market for both bulls and females,” continues the website.

AICA’s website notes the breeders established the American Charbray Breeders Association and the American Charolais Breeders Association, both of which limited pedigrees to a blend of Charolais and Brahman breeding. 

“Producers who were utilizing other beef breed cattle to produce Charolais by compounding Charolais blood through successive generations formed the International Charolais Association,” reads the website. 

It further notes the American and International Associations merged into today’s American International Charolais Association. 

The website then reads, “In 1964, the Pan-American Charolais Association, whose registrations were based on performance rather than genetic content merged into AICA. Three years later, the American Charbray Breeders Association merged with AICA, bringing all Charolais-based breeds in the U.S. under the fold of a single breed registry.”

            AICA explains the Charolais breed is good for growth and uniformity. They also note they have superior natural liveweight gain for age, tremendous muscling and conformity. They are also easy to manage in terms of temperament and easy calving. 

Membership

            AICA explains for a regular active membership, Charolais producers can pay an initial fee of $125. Annual dues are $100 and billed every November of the following calendar year.

            As an active member, producers will also receive the Charolais Journal monthly.

            “The American International Junior Charolais Association (AIJCA) has separate membership and activities,” reads the website. “The AIJCA is a very active entity and sponsors a Junior National Show and Leadership Conference every year. Juniors members are allowed to register cattle at member fee but do not have a vote regarding AICA business.” 

            The website notes initial AIJCA membership fees are $30 and annual dues are $24.

CharAdvantage

            On top of the traditional services offered by a breed association, including tracking pedigrees and providing expected progeny differences (EPD), the AICA also recently added their new feeder calf marketing opportunity, CharAdvantage. 

            “CharAdvantage is an age, source and genetic certification program designed to add more value to Charolais-influenced feeder cattle,” reads AICA’s website. 

            The website also notes by enrolling in the program, producers will receive source, age and genetic verification in the calf crop they are currently marketing. 

            “By documenting this information, participants can add value for buyers seeking feeder cattle with a known background that can qualify for added marketing opportunities and programs,” states the website.

            There are two different tag options to enroll in the program, according to the website. These include electronic identification (EID) tags as well as EID and visual tags. Once cattle are enrolled, producers will receive a certificate, which highlights several aspects of age, source and genetic components of the feeder cattle being offered.

            In addition to age, source and genetic verification, there are a few other elements included on the certificate, according to AICA. 

These include seedstock origin of the sires and dams, composite terminal sire index (TSI) score averages, TSI scores of AICA sires and dams of the feeder cattle, marbling indicators, marketing venues for feeder cattle, beef quality assurance certifications and additional health and management protocols for enrolled cattle. 

            According to AICA, producers can also choose to enroll their cattle in a handful of other programs. These programs include Non-Hormone Treated Cattle, Verified Natural Beef and GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare.

            For more information on the AICA, visit charolaisusa.com.

            Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.