For Jon Thompson, plenty of muscle over the hindquarters, length and temperament are all important features for beef cattle.
And he has found the Limousin breed provides all three in spades.
Mr Thompson and his partner Mindy Rosler, Flat Rock Farm, The Rock, use Limousin genes over their breeders to produce quality weaners for feedlots. In fact, they are so impressed with the offspring, they are in the process of converting their mixed herd of breeders to pure Limousin.
Mr Thompson bought his 330-hectare property three years ago. Before this, he owned a smaller property and ran 15 Hereford-cross breeders, and this was when his interest in Limousin began.
“We purchased a Lim-Flex bull from Birubi stud, Wagga, at least five years ago,” he said. “I still have daughters from the Lim-Flex bull.”
Mr Thompson’s latest buy was a bull from Summit Livestock. The bull is homozygous black and polled.
He now runs a mixed herd of breeders, comprising 35 apricot Limousin cows, 35 Angus cows, five Hereford cows and five Murray Grey cows. But his aim is to eventually produce Limousin breeders, so he only keeps the black and apricot Limousin heifers.
Mr Thompson said he was impressed with the length of the Limousin cattle, as well as their quiet temperament.
“The Limousin is a low maintenance animal,” he said. “I like the amount of muscle over the hindquarters.”
Mr Thompson calves in spring and autumn, and sells his weaners when they reach 10 to 12 months old and weigh around 350 to 400 kilograms. They are sold through the saleyards and are usually snapped up by feedlots.
He has found the black weaners were of particular interest to the feedlots.
“They are chasing blacks,” he said. “And I’ve found that the Limousin weaners are 30 to 40kg heavier than the Angus equivalent.”
He also makes clover pasture and oaten hay, selling 15,000 small square bales a year.
Mr Thompson said one of the most heartening things about the breed had been the people involved in it.
“We love how inviting the Limousin industry has been towards us,” he said. “People like Garry Hedger, Summit Livestock, and Birubi have been very helpful. I’ve learned a lot through them.”
Mr Thompson is heading to the Limousin National Show and Sale on May 3 and 4 for the fifth time to “have a look”, but hasn’t ruled out buying a female.
“It’s a good chance to have a look where the industry is going, and keep up-to-date with new genetics,” he said.
His business, Pedders Suspension in Wagga, is also sponsoring the grand champion bull class.
