BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY
For further information please consult www.limousin.co.uk
BREED COMMENTARY 2009 - 2010
British Limousin is the largest numerical beef breed in the United Kingdom accounting for 32% of the 1.9 million cattle registered with the British Cattle Movement Service. Each year around 600,000 Limousin-sired cattle are registered representing an annual industry value of around £400 million. In the thirteen years since BCMS was established, more than 7 million calves, sired by Limousin bulls, have been registered.
First imported into the United Kingdom from France in 1971, the Limousin breed has built its reputation on being ‘The Carcase Breed’, a breed able to produce quality beef with a low proportion of bone and fat. Its influence on British Beef production has been borne through its advantages in calving ease, growth, milk, fertility, feed efficiency, killing-out percentage and meat yield.
The sustained strength in demand for pedigree Limousin cattle, male and female, is again reflected in pedigree sales figures released by the British Limousin Cattle Society. Trading figures for 2009 show that animals sold at British Limousin Cattle Society Official Sales surpassed the £6.25 Million mark. The figures comparative to 2009, are up by over £500,000.
A further 139 bulls were sold in the year representing a 19% increase.
Cattle prices across the industry have strengthened in 2009 and this has contributed, in part, to the prolific record figures set in pedigree Limousin rings across the United Kingdom. A UK all-breeds record average of £5,688 was set at the breeds’ February Sale in Carlisle only for this mark to be lifted again to £5,735 for an outstanding show of bulls (143 sold) at the breeds’ October Carlisle fixture. At the Autumn 2009 round of Collective Bull Sales held at Carlisle, Perth, Dungannon and Brecon, 285 bulls averaged a remarkable £4,691. This is an increase of 73 bulls sold on the year at these fixtures with an increase in averages of £512! A highlight of the year has been the strength in depth of cattle forward at the point of sale with quality animals being available to suit all budgets. The high end of the trade saw 61 animals (up by 11) to the end of November make 10,000gns or more.
In addition to the two all-breed records set at Carlisle, a number of further records have been set in the year surpassing many of the new marks set in in the previous 12 months. These have included: all-breeds record priced animal at Brecon; all-breeds record average at Brecon; all-breeds record priced cow at Ballymena; and Limousin centre record at Aberdeen.
The Limousin’s ability to produce ½ bred and ¾ bred carcases with excellent conformation, a top killing out percentage and a top yield of saleable meat (73.3%) make it well suited to the market needs of a consistent, quality beef product. An early maturing breed, the Limousin provides young but mature beef in the medium weight range demanded both by butchers and supermarkets.
Limousin bulls are known for their fleshing qualities, lighter bone, fertility, and for the extra conformation they pass to all progeny, whatever the dam. Limousin suckler cows can be found on both upland and lowland systems. They are renowned for ease of calving and ease of management, vital factors in today’s farming economy. A good milking ability and excellent fertility is complemented by a natural hardiness and thriftiness.
As a spin off of the breed’s popularity, membership of the Society is now a record 2,685 and the 18,000 mark of pedigree calf registrations was reached for the fourth consecutive time in 2009 when hitting 18,654. In September 2005, the Society reached its landmark 250,000th pedigree registration – with the last 100,000 registrations coming in just six years alone!
For further information please consult www.limousin.co.uk