There are 67 Limousin studs across Queensland. You can find breeders as far south as Ballandean and right up to the Atherton Tablelands, there are also Limousin type bred cattle as far as Hughenden.
Limousin Society Queensland Branch secretary Vanessa Van Niekerk said the group has the vision to produce high yielding, docile, and commercially relevant stud animals for the cattle breeder.
She said the Limousin has built world renown as the preeminant carcase breed.
"The addition of Limousin will give the commercial breeder an easy calving, reliable solution to increasing the value of their weaners to sale, as well as producing outstanding cattle to retain within the herd.
"F1 and F2 type Limousin-cross cattle present excellent conformation to market, and easy feeding, high yielding, high quality meat.
"From the British breeds, right through to the tropical composite type animals - the hybrid vigor carries through very much the same.
"One doesn't have to look further than a regional led steer competition to see the true power of a Limousin."
Having been involved with Limousins since 1987, veteran stud breeders Geoff and Cheryl Haack, Benamitchy Limousins, based in Gilston on the Gold Coast, can confidently attest to the breeds' benefits.
"We saw Limousins in person for the first time while visiting the Ruskin Stud at Coleyville where we were quite impressed by the breed, it's heavy muscle, butt shape and overall meat quantity," Geoff Haack said.
The Haack's first French Pure embryo calves were born in 1988.
"We figured if one is to breed beef cattle it made sense to breed those that would maximise actual meat production. We were assured calving issues were rare and with a very long history of the breed in France and other parts of Europe the Limousin was a breed with a well established record of passing on its meat producing attributes," he said.
He said the benefits of the breed to the commercial producers are numerous.
"The calving ease, dressing percentages and production of quantities of relatively lean, fine textured meat are well known advantages of the Limousin.
"The feed efficiency, that is conversion of feed into actual saleable meat is not so well understood. Nor are the benefits of the "Limousin Muscle Gene" more correctly described as the F94L gene which is predominantly found in the breed.
Mr Haack said this gene enables an animal to produce significantly more meat without extra feed and said meat will be up to 15 per cent more tender.
He said the other virtually unknown benefit of this gene is the bone out factor.
"This is the butchers benefit where he ends up with 5pc to 7pc more saleable meat from each Limo carcase as compared to other breeds.
Mr Haack said, in retrospect, the expression of the benefits of this gene was the reason for their favourable impression when they first inspected the Ruskin cattle.
He said the Limousin has a very positive future in the Australian beef landscape as production and economic efficiencies come more into focus.
"It's also a breed that has a well established market for the crossbred segment but particularly for the high grade pure commercial Limo with many domestic markets supplying the local Asian and European populations being continually undersupplied.
He said these markets require a lean, high yielding carcase breed and the Limousin fits the bill perfectly.
Ms Van Niekerk said the groups current focus is on promoting the Limousin to young aspiring breeders, while showcasing the beef power of the breed to the experienced grazier.
"The next generation of breeders will be the focus of the 14th Queensland Limousin Youth Camp which is scheduled to be held in Ipswich, hopefully in September this year though a date is still to be confirmed due to uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 restrictions.
"The Queensland Limousin Breeders Group will have a section at CRT FarmFest from October 13 to 15, and will run the Limousin Australia tent at Beef Australia 2021. And be sure to join us at the Ekka in 2021 to see our powerful, well attended cattle sections."
Other events and sales on the horizon include the Limousin Blockbuster carcase competition, the BJF Limousin Invitational Bull and Female Sale, on Friday, August 14, the Graneta Angus and Limousin Sale on Friday, August 21, and the Talana Limousins Bull Sale on Thursday, September 17.
For more information on these events please visit limousin.com.au and contact Vanessa Van Niekerk on 0467 903 305 or vanessa.vniekerk@gmail.com
