In the United Kingdom, the British Limousin Cattle Society is the organization that promotes and develops the Limousin brand, with research and technology involving some of Britain's leading agricultural colleges, universities and animal health companies. A technical and a marketing plan, coupled with professional promotional programmes, harness the passion of 2500 member breeders who provide the seedstock responsible for the 700, 000 Limousin sired cattle produced every year. As a consequence, the Limousin industry is a £375 million a year business and the breed is firmly established in the UK as the largest numerical breed of cattle with a 35% market share.
Limousin is the largest numerical beef breed in the United Kingdom accounting for 35% of the 1.9 million cattle registered with the British Cattle Movement Service in 2004. In the nine years since BCMS was established, just under 6 million calves, sired by Limousin bulls, have been registered.
First imported into the United Kingdom 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 Limousin breed enjoyed a momentous 2004. Some facts from the year include: pedigree Limousin Sales breaking through the £6 Million barrier to gross £6,006,530; record pedigree registrations of 18,026; International Limousin Congress 300 plus delegates from 5 continents attended 14 day UK Congress; confirmation of the breed's numerical superiority in BCMS passports issued; world record price of 55,000gns for Limousin female for Bailea Umandy; officially the largest share of the terminal sire market; Interbreed and/or commercial championship titles were secured at all 4 principal "Royal" Shows; an estimated level of 1 in 3 heifer replacements in the national beef herd; overall Championship titles secured at Welsh Winter Fair and National Primestock Show; and at Royal Smithfield Limousin sired cattle won 11 of the 16 championship rosettes available.
The Limousin's ability to produce ½ bred and ¾ bred carcasses 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 around 2500 and calf registrations last year, in 2004, reached an all-breeds high of over 18,026. This is expected to be surpassed again this year in 2005. In September 2005, the Society reached its landmark 250,000th pedigree registration - with the latest 100,000 registrations in the last six years alone!