Limousin cattle are the largest numerical beef breed in the United Kingdom, the third largest beef

breed in the United States and the fifth largest beef breed in Canada.

As part of a comprehensive plan to relaunch the Limousin breed and make a much bigger splash, LimousinNZ is jumping in with their Australian counterparts. Limousin New Zealand secretary Allan McKenzie said being part of the Australian Limousin Society would aid the development and marketing of the breed in New Zealand and help to future-proof the society.

“With the resources of the Australian Limousin Society supporting, encouraging and offering skilled leadership and supplying the basic services very efficiently, we have the opportunity to apply Australian developed strategies and to add initiatives specific to New Zealand.”

As part of the rebirth of Limousin in New Zealand, the society is adopting a quality assurance programme. It will be available from society approved breeders. The basic requirements for participation in the Limousin Assurance Program are that all seed stock animals offered for sale are registered or recorded with the Australian Limousin Breeders’ Society; each drop of calves must be docility scored using the ALBS docility scoring system; and the scores must be submitted to ALBS.

A prescribed docility and fertility warranty must be provided for all bulls and females.

The Limousin assurance programme used by the Australian society has the aim of differentiating Limousin members from commercial breeders who sell unregistered bulls; and to provide members with a uniform method of providing information, assurance and warranties to potential buyers.

Another feature new to LimousinNZ is that anyone buying registered cattle from Society members will have the option of receiving transfers. This will add potential value to their purchases which may at a later stage be transferred to registered breeders.

The long running North Island LimousinNZ bull trial and sale is now duplicated in the South Island where females have been added to the sale.

The Limousin Australia website will soon have a LimousinNZ section and already includes New Zealand sale catalogues.