The new liaison officer of the British Charolais Cattle Society (BCCS) is Siân Sharp.

In this newly created position, Siân will become the face of the BCCS, working closely with the breed council to initiate a strategy to take the Charolais breed forward liaising between the society’s office, members, and key industry figures.

Siân brings to her new role, extensive experience of working within the pedigree livestock field having previously served as breed secretary of the Salers Cattle Society for almost four years, and prior to that secretary of the Highland Cattle Society.

Until 2017, Siân bred pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle alongside her father David Lucas, at Cheeklaw Farm, near Duns. She was also a council member of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society (AACS) council, participating in the health, technical, youth development, and marketing committees.

BCCS chairman, Andrew Sellick says this appointment is a significant landmark in the Society’s recent progress.

“The BCCS and its members have been working tirelessly over the past few years to improve the breed and its performance, and we’re delighted that Siân has joined us to help take the British Charolais to the next level. We have previously worked closely with Siân for our Charolais X Salers joint herd tours in 2022, and we’re looking forward very much to continuing to promote the case for the Charolais with her innovative ideas and expertise.”

Siân will split her time between the BCCS office in Stoneleigh, her home near Duns in the Scottish Borders, attending shows, events, and sales, and meeting members and commercial breeders. Her aim is to give a clear identity for the breed and to develop relationships with breeders and the wider commercial markets.

Siân’s primary aim is to establish the reputation of the Charolais as the number one terminal sire both commercially and environmentally. “As someone once told me, three weeks in the life of a Charolais calf is a very long time, and Charolais breeders have raised the performance and profile of the breed enormously in terms of conversion, efficiency, and days to slaughter.