South Australian Limousin Breeders

Updated 14^th February 2009

News

Limousin blitzes field in Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic

Limousin added to its impressive winning record, and again demonstrated why it is rapidly growing in popularity as a terminal sire around the world, by taking out Grand Champion prize and two of the four first prizes at the recent Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic competition.

The prize giving presentation dinner held on 30^th January 2009 at the Kincraig Hotel, Naracoorte, was dominated by impressive Limousin and Limousin-cross winning entries. The competition, organised by Teys Bros, Naracoorte, with proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, attracted 135 entries in four classes.

David and Alison Galpin of Warrawindi Limousins, Penola, took out the Class 3 first prize for Trade Steer/Heifer, maximum 2 teeth, CWT 180 - 260kg, with a 250kg Limousin X Murray Grey, which then went on to win the Grand Champion carcase trophy.

First prize was also awarded to the pen of three Limousin X Angus steers (Class 2, maximum 4 teeth, CWT 300 - 420kg) entered by Carole and Frank Burden of Graffoe Limousins, Tintinara. These entries were sired by a Pebbly Range Limousins' bull.

Another Limousin X Angus steer entered by Graffoe Limousins took out third prize in Class 1 (Steer, maximum 4 teeth, CWT 300 - 420kg), and a purebred Limousin steer also entered by Graffoe Limousins took out third prize in Class 3 (Trade Steer/Heifer, maximum 2 teeth, CWT 180 - 260kg). The Class 3 purebred Limousin carcase was awarded the third highest score of all 135 entries in the competition.

Four of Graffoe Limousins' prize winning entries.

Click here to read more on the competition and for a photo of David and Allison with their trophy.

Limousin promotion and commercial cross-breeding field day

South Australian breeders held a Limousin cross-breeding field day on Sunday 23^rd November 2008 at the Burden's Graffoe Limousin Stud, near Tintinara. Three of the field day talks were given in the Burden's shearing shed, and the final talk conducted at the cattle yards in front of pens of young Limousin bulls and Limousin/Angus steers.

Seventy people attended the field day, of whom half were Limousin stud breeders. The remainder were commercial cattle breeders, stock agents, and other beef professionals, who were keen to learn more about Limousins.

Lance Chaplin (right) spoke about his experience as a branded beef producer (Patchawarra) in the state's Upper South East and explained why he chose Limousin as a terminal sire over his 1,000 Hereford/Friesian cross cows. Key points made were:

Buy quality replacement females.
Meat quality is determined principally by nutrition. Lance uses a mix of lucerne and veldt grass in his pastures.
When selecting a bull, experience has taught him to rely on his judgment rather than EBVs.
He is able to provide a continuous supply to supermarkets by year-round calving.

Associate Professor Wayne Pitchford (left) presented the results of over ten years research into the so-called Limousin muscling gene. Key points made were:

The gene studied is known as Myostatin, which regulates muscle growth in animals. Two Myostatin genes are present, one on each arm of chromosome 2 in cattle.
Ten mutations of the gene have been discovered in cattle, of which seven are associated with characteristic increased meat yield and reduced fat thickness.
The Myostatin mutation in Limousin is known as F94L, which is less extreme and is not associated with the disadvantages of other mutations, e.g. the myostatin mutation in Belgian Blue cattle truncates the action of the gene, leading to excessive muscling and increased calving difficulties.
Cooperative research into F94L conducted by the University of Adelaide and New Zealand researchers involved crossing and back-crossing Jersey and Limousin cattle. The Jersey was chosen because it represented an extreme breed type when compared with Limousin.
Notable in the research was that cattle with the F94L mutation on both arms of the chromosome had 14-19% greater silverside yield, net feed intake reduced by just under 1 kg/day, retail beef yield increased by 6-8%, tenderness improved 6-11%, eye muscle area increased by 19%, and fat (rump, IMF and P8) reduced by 20-30%. No other major effects were noted.
The gene appears to be mildly recessive, which means that cattle with only one F94L mutation experience slightly less than half of the above benefits. Testing has shown that the majority of Limousins, probably greater than 98%, have two copies of the F94L mutation, with negligible to no occurrence in other breeds.

Alex McDonald (right), the ALBS general manager, presented data on premiums attracted by Limousin and Limousin-cross cattle. Key points made were:

Limousin consistently yields up to 17% more saleable beef for the same liveweight than British breeds. 50% Limousin/British breed cattle typically yield 8% more saleable beef.
At 450kg liveweight, a Limousin/British breed cross will return an extra $226, and a pure Limousin will return an extra $460.
Data from the National Livestock Reporting Service (2007) indicates that more highly muscled steers and heifers attract premiums in the range 26 - 37c/kg (330 - 400kg liveweight), and cows (500+kg liveweight) attract a premium of about 15c/kg.
Current market specifications used by major beef processors now recognise consumer preferences for leaner meat by lowering minimum fat thickness requirements. Finished straight and Limousin cross cattle should comfortably meet these specifications.
Feedlots are actively seeking Limousin cross cattle, but there is an industry need to finish cattle quickly.

Barry Vogt of the Maryvale Limousin Stud finished the field day at the cattle yards with a backdrop of young Limousin bulls and Limousin/Angus steers. Barry explained why Limousin and Limousin-cross cattle are ideally suited to the European Union (EU) market. Key points made were:

The EU market is a premium market for targeting by Australian beef producers, with market specifications ideally suited to Limousin and Limousin cross cattle.
The EU market requires heavy carcases in the range 240 - 420kg, and is open to 0 - 4 tooth steers and heifers.
Current EU pricing is approximately 45 - 50 c/kg stronger than other export markets.
EU cattle can only be produced on EU-accredited properties and slaughtered in EU-accredited processing facilities. Accreditation occurs through AQIS. Properties are audited frequently.
The EU market is substantially a grass fed market, although paddock supplementation is acceptable.
Limousin-sired crossbred calves regularly weigh 30 - 40kg more than straight British bred contemporaries. Higher dressing and retail yield percentages significantly add to this advantage when cattle are ready for slaughter.
EU does not require marbling, and fat cover requirements are 6 - 22mm (6 - 8mm is optimum). Carcases are trimmed to 8mm, so fat cover in excess of 8mm is wasted. Fat cover below specification is heavily penalised.
Bruising is also heavily penalised. Ideal progeny should be relatively docile, polled or dehorned, and care should be taken when transporting cattle (do not squeeze too many cattle into a pen), particularly on long journeys.
The EU grid is priced on dressed weight, which means that Limousin and Limousin cross beef producers benefit from the breed's higher dressing percentage. A 2% increase in dressing percentage on a 650kg animal results in an extra $49 to the producer.
Bulls should be bred for fast growing, with above average performance for 400 day weight, and without calving ease being sacrificed.

Limousin raises the steaks!

Pebbly Range Brutus bred by Sandra Keatley of Pebbly Range Limousin Stud. Prepared and shown by University of Adelaide For four consecutive years Limousin has won the "Grand Champion Steer on the Hoof" prize at the Royal Adelaide Show (2005 - 2008). This year's steer (Pebbly Range Brutus) beat more than 150 other entries from 13 breeds, and went on to be reserve champion in the heavy weight domestic category on the hook.

Limousins were placed in all categories on hoof this year showing their capability to finish at all weights. Limousin had the highest average dressing out percentage of all breeds at 61.6%, superior to Angus by 4.6%, Shorthorn and Murray Grey by 4.8%, and Hereford by 5.7%.

2007 saw Limousin win the double with Grand Champion on Hoof and Hook.

Up to 20% more beef from the same amount of feed

Dr Wayne Pitchford and his team at Adelaide University have discovered that cattle with two copies of the F94L variant of the myostatin muscling gene can give the above premium. He reports that Limousin cattle have a very high frequency of this gene, whereas other breeds such as Angus or Hereford have very low or zero frequency. The gene also increases tenderness by 15%. Click here for more ...