FACTS

• Parthenais produces fine-grain, tender beef, with low intramuscular fat and cholesterol

• High killing-out percentage. Only 8.8% fat in the carcass and a net meat content of 77%, with 41.25% of this being high-quality cuts

• Growth rates upwards of 1.5kg/day

• Meat in France worth three times more and averages £5.25/kg

• The breed is double-muscled, and perform well off grass

• Despite being heavily muscled they are easy calving due to the light bone structure. Average birthweights for bulls are about 44kg. The mature bulls weigh 1,000kg-1,300kg and cows 750kg-1,000kg

The Parthenais thrives on all types of terrain, they are shown to cope very well and have very good disease resistance. Originating from the Deux-Sèvres, western France, climatic conditions are not too dissimilar to British conditions.

With a Parthenais-cross, you can get a killing-out percentage of up to 68%, and with a purebred you can get 70%. This compares with an average in other breeds of about 50-55%.
The meat percentage is also very high, with a purebred about 80%, which gives more profit to the farmer and processor. They would usually grade between a U and E.

Heifers killed at 18 months are averaging about 400kg, in comparison to a two-year-old Longhorn, which would average 350kg.

Commercial men showing cattle are also interested as the cross-breeds produce a lot of dark colours and with the double muscle gene, they make fancy show cattle.

Cross-breeds have been selling up to £1,000 at market at a year old.

Parthenais beef, the healthy option. With people turning more to healthy living and healthy diets demand for good healthy food is stronger than ever. Parthenais offers you something no other breed does, it has lower cholesterol than chicken! Add Parthenais to your herd and produce beef for the future, meat that’s in demand for its tenderness and healthiness. Contact the society to find out more today.