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The Breed in brief
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First depicted on cave paintings dating back 15 000 years,
the Limousin breed can trace its origin back to the rugged,
hilly Limousin region of France’s Massif Central – noted for
its acidic, poor granitic soils, hot summers & severe
winters.
The Limousin
cattle breed is a medium-framed beef breed known for
its exceptional muscle development, high meat yield,
and calm temperament. It is prized for its
adaptability, longevity, and ability to
produce
top-quality beef efficiently.
Limousins are
used extensively in purebred stud herds and as
terminal sires in crossbreeding programs based on their
ability to improve muscling and carcass traits in progeny.
They’re popular worldwide, especially in Europe, North and
South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Southern Africa.
Limousins are
genetically hard-wired to produce better beef more
efficiently. As global demand for processed meat increases,
superior meat carcasses with good yields and deboning
efficiency have become more critical than ever.
The F94L
myostatin “profit” gene in Limousins drives exceptional
growth and muscling, increasing the number of muscle fibres
without resulting in severe double muscling. In addition,
Limousins have a fine bone structure that yields higher
meat-to-bone ratios.
The genetic
advantage can help your herd achieve:
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Up to 19% more high-value cuts
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An 8% increase in retail yield
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6-11% greater tenderness
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All without additional feed
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No extra calving difficulty
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No reduced fertility
When
crossbreeding with Limousins, the progeny will inherit one
copy of the F94L gene and will typically show a 9.5%
increase in silverside and eye muscle area, a 4% higher
retail beef yield, a 3% improvement in loin muscle
tenderness, and 5.5% increase in silverside tenderness.
1.
Much More for farmers
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Genetically based High Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Feed
Conversion Rate (FCR).
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Excellent foragers, making them ideal for grass-fed beef
production.
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High slaughtering percentage due to fine bone structure,
high muscling, and lean fat content.
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Limousins deliver small calves easily, which grow
exceptionally fast, resulting in higher weaning weights.
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Very adaptable to our harsh African conditions and possesses
unparalleled longevity.
2.
Much More for Feedlots
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Purebred Limousins and Limousin-cross animals reach
slaughter weights on less feed, thanks to the genetic
advantage of the F94L “profit” gene.
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Animals can be fed longer to increase carcass weight before
gaining unwanted excess fat.
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The scientifically established culling rate surpasses 62%,
resulting in increased meat production and higher profits.
3.
Much More for Abattoir
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Consistently deliver confirmation scores of three and above,
along with uniform quality grade cuts of tender, leaner
beef.
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The breed’s fine bone structure results in a high
meat-to-bone ratio, allowing for deboning of 75-82% of the
carcass.
4.
Much More for Consumer
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Limousins produce premium tender cuts rich in flavour –
perfect for discerning chefs and meat connoisseurs.
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The breed produces naturally lean beef low in cholesterol
and saturated fats, making it an ideal choice for the modern
health-conscious consumer. |
