FOR the first time, the Charollais Sheep's Premier sale of rams at Worcester, will feature a show and sale of gimmers to commemorate 40 years of the breed in the UK, and, a 'Golden Balls' competition.

The event which is traditionally staged on the first Saturday in July at Worcester, will this year kick off on the evening of Friday, June 30, with a show and sale of females from some of the leading flocks in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The breed celebrations, which commence at 7.30pm will also include free hog roast, music and refreshments.

The sale of rams the following day, on Saturday, July 1, has attracted no fewer than 200 entries and the new Golden Balls competition, outwith the usual 'fit for purpose' inspections relating to good feet, locomotion, teeth, general condition and a good set of testicles.

The Golden Balls competition will identify the ram with the best testicles. Although big is beautiful in this department, the prize will be awarded to the ram the ticks these boxes; size relative to age and body weight, tone and anatomical correctness, prominent tail of epididymis and no excessive fat in spermatic chords.

The competition is being judged by artificial breeding expert, veterinary surgeon Ian McDougall, who is also awarding a £150 voucher towards semen freezing with his company Farmgene.

With nearly 30 years experience of collecting and examining rams semen worldwide, Ian knows a thing or two about testicles! He also knows that across and within breeds there is a great range of performance and the positive effect that fertile rams can have for profitable lamb production.

“Rams with large firm testicles are able get more ewes pregnant per day than those with small or flabby testicles because large firm testicles have a higher daily rate of quality semen production. Testicle size is heritable!” says Ian and hence the great importance of highlighting this aspect of rams that will be used as stock sires in the future.