Charollais originated in France in the early 1800's from a cross of Leicester Longwool and local landrace breeds. The breed is often used as a terminal sire to increase the muscling and growth rate of the lambs. The Charollais has excellent maternal qualities, early maturity, good fertility, high prolificacity and are excellent milkers.

They are a medium to large sheep, long, well muscled and have a mature body weight of 100-150 kg for rams and 80-100kg for ewes. The breed is found in more than twenty countries around the world. The Charollais fleece is fine and dense.