Salers Breeding in Normandy

Salers Breeders for almost 25 years, we have always selected the best heifers to obtain a homogeneous herd.

         Today, we breed 90 pure salers mothers, registered in the Herd Book of the race, led to 40% purebred. Our first choice of selection are based on the development and the milk. So we started with bulls from dairy salers breedings, to be sure that the cows can raise a heavy calf. Then, following the fixation of these characters, we put males with strong muscular development on our cows to improve the beef.

         Similarly, the herd orientation has changed over time. Since 2000, we cross a part of the herd with Charolais bulls. This choice was caused by the development of activity "direct sales", directly to the costumers, since November 2001. We sell two heifers per month in boxes of 5kg.

         Our calvings are between June 15 and August 15. This period is so favorable to the development of young calves without having to note health problems (diarrhea, infections, ...). In addition, this practice allows us to get out of dry cows in the spring, since the withdrawal occurs 15 days prior to the grass.

         Finally, since 2006, we opt for the first calving at 2 years. This technique requires special efforts, but turns out to be an effective ally to the genetic work.

Growths are excellent, look at the table ! (Bovins croissance 2011)

Catégory	Birth Weight	Weight second weighing	ADG Birth-Weighing2	Weight at 210 jours
Pure males	35 kg	334 kg	1 281 g/j.	307 kg
Cross males	37 kg	380 kg	1 449 g/j.	341 kg
Pure females	34 kg	302 kg	1 120 g/j.	272 kg
Cross females	36 kg	351 kg	1 344 g/j.	322 kg