Limousin
The Carcass Breed
Limousin cattle are a breed of highly muscled beef cattle originating from the Limousin and Marche regions of France. The breed is known as Limousine in France. Limousins were first exported from France in significant numbers in the 1960s and are now present in about 70 countries. They are naturally horned and have a distinctive lighter wheat to darker golden-red colouring, although international breeders have now bred polled (do not have horns) and black Limousins.
Initially used mainly as draft animals, interest in Limousins as a source of high quality meat grew about two hundred years ago. The first Limousin herd book was then established in France in 1886 to ensure the breed's purity and improvement by only recording and breeding animals that satisfied a strictly enforced breed standard.
Limousins have become popular because of their low birth weights (ease of calving), higher than average dressing percentage (ratio of carcase to live weight) and yield (ratio of meat to carcase), high feed conversion efficiency, and their ability to produce lean, tender meat. A major multi-breed study reported that Limousins converted feed into saleable meat more efficiently and significantly faster than popular British breeds, and marginally faster than other popular continental European cattle breeds. Conversely, the other cattle breeds produced proportionally more low-cost by-product and waste, which resulted in their live weight growth being faster than Limousins. Limousins are especially favoured for crossbreeding with cattle such as Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn because of their ability to contribute hybrid vigour, and improve the yield and feed conversion efficiency of these British breeds, which produce higher levels of fat and marbled meat.
Initially used mainly as draft animals, interest in Limousins as a source of high quality meat grew about two hundred years ago. The first Limousin herd book was then established in France in 1886 to ensure the breed's purity and improvement by only recording and breeding animals that satisfied a strictly enforced breed standard.
Limousins have become popular because of their low birth weights (ease of calving), higher than average dressing percentage (ratio of carcase to live weight) and yield (ratio of meat to carcase), high feed conversion efficiency, and their ability to produce lean, tender meat. A major multi-breed study reported that Limousins converted feed into saleable meat more efficiently and significantly faster than popular British breeds, and marginally faster than other popular continental European cattle breeds. Conversely, the other cattle breeds produced proportionally more low-cost by-product and waste, which resulted in their live weight growth being faster than Limousins. Limousins are especially favoured for crossbreeding with cattle such as Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn because of their ability to contribute hybrid vigour, and improve the yield and feed conversion efficiency of these British breeds, which produce higher levels of fat and marbled meat.
Most Limousin cattle have a coloration that varies from light wheat to darker golden-red. Other coloration, mainly black, has been developed through cross-breeding and grading up from other breeds of cattle. In addition to altering natural coloration, other traits, such as polled (a genetic lack of horns), have been introduced through cross breeding.
Characteristics
● Medium framed animal – “middle of the road” average sized animals that adapt well to the environment.
● Hybrid vigour – with any breed Limousins produce growthy calves for the feedlot.
● Efficient carcase – high slaughter %’s; meat yields; meat to bone ratios and low fat.
● Easy calving – at 32kgs on the veld.
● Adaptability – thrives from the Bushveld, Highveld, Karoo, Namibia and the Cape.
● Functionally efficient – great emphasis is placed on well adapted, fertile animals with good beefing qualities.
● Docility – they are easy to work with.
● Fertility – herds achieve 92% weaning rates.
● Longevity – cows regularly produce up to 14 calves.
● Feedlot potential – with excellent feed conversion and average daily gains in excess of 2kgs per day.
● Carcase competitions – regularly compete and win with high meat yields of 65%.
● Genetic variation – is wide with new bloodlines from tested bulls in France.
● Breedplan Performance Recording System – our data base is controlled and great strides have been made with all genetic trends.
● Interbreed competitions – gold cups are regularly won at major shows.
● Hybrid vigour – with any breed Limousins produce growthy calves for the feedlot.
● Efficient carcase – high slaughter %’s; meat yields; meat to bone ratios and low fat.
● Easy calving – at 32kgs on the veld.
● Adaptability – thrives from the Bushveld, Highveld, Karoo, Namibia and the Cape.
● Functionally efficient – great emphasis is placed on well adapted, fertile animals with good beefing qualities.
● Docility – they are easy to work with.
● Fertility – herds achieve 92% weaning rates.
● Longevity – cows regularly produce up to 14 calves.
● Feedlot potential – with excellent feed conversion and average daily gains in excess of 2kgs per day.
● Carcase competitions – regularly compete and win with high meat yields of 65%.
● Genetic variation – is wide with new bloodlines from tested bulls in France.
● Breedplan Performance Recording System – our data base is controlled and great strides have been made with all genetic trends.
● Interbreed competitions – gold cups are regularly won at major shows.
Breed Standards
General Appearance
Size and Weight
The animal must be properly developed and full-grown for its age. The framework must display sufficient length, depth and width. Full grown bulls must have a mass of between 800 and 1 050 kg and mature female animals a mass of 500 – 750 kg.
Pure-bloodedness
Typical characteristics of the breed are the well-defined muscling, especially in the back and hindquarters, and a typical short head with or without horns. The colour pattern varies from a light straw colour to dark-red where white is allowed along the lower body line. The breed has a relatively fine bone structure in comparison to the rest of the body. As a result it is able to maintain a slaughter out percentage of above 60%.
Type and Balance
The Limousin breed displays the typical characteristics of a good beef breed, with particularly good back and hindquarter muscling, and with little waste along the lower body line and flank.
The animals must display the correct proportions between the various parts of the body. This good balance of the animal is a reflect in proper hormonal functioning and regular reproduction.
Character
(a) Temperament - Calm and peaceful, but alert and protective, especially cows with small calves
(b) Purity of Gender
Bull:
The bull reflect strong masculinity, which must be clearly apparent in the muscling of the back, hindquarters, shoulder, forearm, withers and neck, as well as well-developed, uniform testicles with no dangling sheath. A darkening in colour on the neck, forequarter, along the lower body line and outer thighs is essential. Older bulls tend to be heavier and more muscular in their forequarters.
Cow:
The cow must display an overall femininity, and must be more refined than the bull. Therefore she has to display a flatter neck with fine neck creases, good quality hair and a finer bone structure. Cows in mild can display a wedge shape. The udder must be well-balanced and properly attached, with well placed, pigmented teats of proper length. The genitals must be well-developed with clearly visible udder and teat development in heifers.
Quality
The joints must be firm and dry, with a smooth, shiny coat, pleasant to the touch. The hide must be thick, supple and pigmented. The hooves must be strong and pigmented.
Build
Head: Wide and slightly short, with a hollow appearance between the eyes
Ears: Small, flexible, rounded at the edges and covered with longish hair on the outside
Eye-brow ridges: Well-developed with pigmented hide around the eyes, especially the bulls
Eyes: Large, with a tranquil expression, encircled by moving eyelids
Nose bridge: Wide, strong and oval in shape
Muzzle: Wide and strong with large, lose lips
Nostrils: Large and oval-shaped
Teeth: Big and strong – must fit well onto the cutting plane
Jaws: Deep and strong – must fit well onto each other, not too fleshy
Horns: Round and light in colour with animals that are not dehorned
Neck and Shoulders
Of average length, slightly rounded, which connects well with the head. In the case of a bull the neck is far more developed than the cow. A well-developed throat skin that starts beneath the chin and ends between the forelegs.
Forequarter
Shoulders and breast: The shoulder bones slope fairly sharply from, the bottom upwards, and are properly joined to the withers, breast and neck. The area between the shoulders are fairly wide where the eye muscle starts. The breast is wide in the chest breadth, but not prominent in the brisket. There is a gradual transition between the forequarter and the ribs without a devil’s grip being present. The breast must be properly sized, but not too deep. The forearm must be well-muscled and the shoulder bones not too wide.
Barrel
Long and wide and of moderate depth, with a proper rib opening and capacity. It must connect well to the forequarters, as well as the hindquarters.
Back and Loins: Straight, long, wide and well-muscled. The eye muscle development must be prominent and bulge higher than the withers. As a result of this the top line is not always horizontal.
Ribs: Well-spaced, wide, long and slightly curved towards the back
Hindquarters
Long, deep, wide and well-muscled. The rump is long with a moderate slope. The pins and thurls must be widely spaced along the same vertical line. The thigh muscles must be wide and full, with the back thigh sloping lower towards the heel. The bulls are more muscular than the cows.
Tail
The tail setting is joined straight, but not too deep into the rump. The tail gradually become thinner towards its end with an average switch.
Legs, Claws, Joints & Gait
Legs: Must be fine, strong and dry, but still functional
Claws: Of average size, hard, deep and closed, with pigmentation
Joints: Strong, dry and well-developed, with the correct angle being 200 – 210 at the heel and 50 – 55 at the pastern. A strong heel tendon and firm pastern-joint are essential
Gait: Comfortable, with the hind paw treading in the track of the front paw
Udder and Teats
A well-balanced udder with four functional, long, wide quarters, properly joined. The teats must be of normal length and size, well-placed and with pigmentation
Genitals
Cow: Well-developed, loose and soft
Bull: Well-developed testicles, equal in size, not turned and with clearly visible secondary testicles. Short sheath.
Minimum circumference of scrotum
Mass:
300 – 349 kg = 29 cm
350 – 399 kg = 30 cm
400 – 449 kg = 31 cm
450 – 500 kg = 32 cm
500 – 549 kg = 33 cm
550 – 600 kg = 33 cm
600 and higher = 34 cm
Hide and Coat
Supple, thick skin with good pigmentation. A short, shiny coat is ideal, but long, curly hair also occurs according to the season and environment.
Colour
All shades from a light straw colour to a dark red-brown. A lighter colouring around the eyes and muzzle, as well as between the legs, is normal.
Black Limousins
Since 1996 they have been allowed as a breed, administered by the same society and selected according to the same Standards of Excellency except under the colour clause where white may occur along the lower body line. A mulberry colour may also occur.
Discriminations & disqualifications according to the degree of deviation
● Any signs of cross-breeding
● To big or too small
● Animals without the necessary pigmentation
● White or black above the lower body line, or, in black animals, white or brown above the lower body
● Too coarse or too fine a bone structure
● Poor balance, especially in cows that are heavy in the forequarters and bulls that are light in the hindquarters
● Wry mouth or nose bone
● Flat, hanging or roofy rump
● Wry tail setting or a tail setting that is too deeply implanted
● Straight-hocked (straight hock with little or no curve)
● Cow-hocked (edges of hocks close together)
● Sickle-hocked (with the bottom of the back leg turned a lot to the front from the tarsal hock joint)
● Forelegs knock-kneed or bow-legged
● Hind legs turned to the inside
● Woolly or curly coat
● Matted curl
● Too long a head
● Rambling
● Pony-like
● A completely black or blue muzzle, or a white and brown muzzle in black animals
● Bad temperament: too listless or too wild
● Bulls with a female or ox-like appearance. Weak eye-brow ridge development and flat neck
● Female animals with male or ox-like appearance. Little or no udder and teat development, especially in heifers
● Excessive fat deposits on the brisket, hips and pins
● Misshapen genitals and a scrotum circumference that is lower than the minimum requirement:
a) One testicle
b) Testicles turned more than 45˚ and turned of epidiymus (side testicle)
c) Hypo-placement (one normal testicle and one smaller one)
d) Absence of side testicles
e) A dangling, prominent sheath, or sheath with a large opening (prolaps)
● Excessively long or short bottom jaw
● Devil’s grip
● Hollow or roach-back
● Weak pasterns:
a) Dewclaws touch the ground
b) Short stiff and upright pastures
● Poor muscling especially at bulls
Size and Weight
The animal must be properly developed and full-grown for its age. The framework must display sufficient length, depth and width. Full grown bulls must have a mass of between 800 and 1 050 kg and mature female animals a mass of 500 – 750 kg.
Pure-bloodedness
Typical characteristics of the breed are the well-defined muscling, especially in the back and hindquarters, and a typical short head with or without horns. The colour pattern varies from a light straw colour to dark-red where white is allowed along the lower body line. The breed has a relatively fine bone structure in comparison to the rest of the body. As a result it is able to maintain a slaughter out percentage of above 60%.
Type and Balance
The Limousin breed displays the typical characteristics of a good beef breed, with particularly good back and hindquarter muscling, and with little waste along the lower body line and flank.
The animals must display the correct proportions between the various parts of the body. This good balance of the animal is a reflect in proper hormonal functioning and regular reproduction.
Character
(a) Temperament - Calm and peaceful, but alert and protective, especially cows with small calves
(b) Purity of Gender
Bull:
The bull reflect strong masculinity, which must be clearly apparent in the muscling of the back, hindquarters, shoulder, forearm, withers and neck, as well as well-developed, uniform testicles with no dangling sheath. A darkening in colour on the neck, forequarter, along the lower body line and outer thighs is essential. Older bulls tend to be heavier and more muscular in their forequarters.
Cow:
The cow must display an overall femininity, and must be more refined than the bull. Therefore she has to display a flatter neck with fine neck creases, good quality hair and a finer bone structure. Cows in mild can display a wedge shape. The udder must be well-balanced and properly attached, with well placed, pigmented teats of proper length. The genitals must be well-developed with clearly visible udder and teat development in heifers.
Quality
The joints must be firm and dry, with a smooth, shiny coat, pleasant to the touch. The hide must be thick, supple and pigmented. The hooves must be strong and pigmented.
Build
Head: Wide and slightly short, with a hollow appearance between the eyes
Ears: Small, flexible, rounded at the edges and covered with longish hair on the outside
Eye-brow ridges: Well-developed with pigmented hide around the eyes, especially the bulls
Eyes: Large, with a tranquil expression, encircled by moving eyelids
Nose bridge: Wide, strong and oval in shape
Muzzle: Wide and strong with large, lose lips
Nostrils: Large and oval-shaped
Teeth: Big and strong – must fit well onto the cutting plane
Jaws: Deep and strong – must fit well onto each other, not too fleshy
Horns: Round and light in colour with animals that are not dehorned
Neck and Shoulders
Of average length, slightly rounded, which connects well with the head. In the case of a bull the neck is far more developed than the cow. A well-developed throat skin that starts beneath the chin and ends between the forelegs.
Forequarter
Shoulders and breast: The shoulder bones slope fairly sharply from, the bottom upwards, and are properly joined to the withers, breast and neck. The area between the shoulders are fairly wide where the eye muscle starts. The breast is wide in the chest breadth, but not prominent in the brisket. There is a gradual transition between the forequarter and the ribs without a devil’s grip being present. The breast must be properly sized, but not too deep. The forearm must be well-muscled and the shoulder bones not too wide.
Barrel
Long and wide and of moderate depth, with a proper rib opening and capacity. It must connect well to the forequarters, as well as the hindquarters.
Back and Loins: Straight, long, wide and well-muscled. The eye muscle development must be prominent and bulge higher than the withers. As a result of this the top line is not always horizontal.
Ribs: Well-spaced, wide, long and slightly curved towards the back
Hindquarters
Long, deep, wide and well-muscled. The rump is long with a moderate slope. The pins and thurls must be widely spaced along the same vertical line. The thigh muscles must be wide and full, with the back thigh sloping lower towards the heel. The bulls are more muscular than the cows.
Tail
The tail setting is joined straight, but not too deep into the rump. The tail gradually become thinner towards its end with an average switch.
Legs, Claws, Joints & Gait
Legs: Must be fine, strong and dry, but still functional
Claws: Of average size, hard, deep and closed, with pigmentation
Joints: Strong, dry and well-developed, with the correct angle being 200 – 210 at the heel and 50 – 55 at the pastern. A strong heel tendon and firm pastern-joint are essential
Gait: Comfortable, with the hind paw treading in the track of the front paw
Udder and Teats
A well-balanced udder with four functional, long, wide quarters, properly joined. The teats must be of normal length and size, well-placed and with pigmentation
Genitals
Cow: Well-developed, loose and soft
Bull: Well-developed testicles, equal in size, not turned and with clearly visible secondary testicles. Short sheath.
Minimum circumference of scrotum
Mass:
300 – 349 kg = 29 cm
350 – 399 kg = 30 cm
400 – 449 kg = 31 cm
450 – 500 kg = 32 cm
500 – 549 kg = 33 cm
550 – 600 kg = 33 cm
600 and higher = 34 cm
Hide and Coat
Supple, thick skin with good pigmentation. A short, shiny coat is ideal, but long, curly hair also occurs according to the season and environment.
Colour
All shades from a light straw colour to a dark red-brown. A lighter colouring around the eyes and muzzle, as well as between the legs, is normal.
Black Limousins
Since 1996 they have been allowed as a breed, administered by the same society and selected according to the same Standards of Excellency except under the colour clause where white may occur along the lower body line. A mulberry colour may also occur.
Discriminations & disqualifications according to the degree of deviation
● Any signs of cross-breeding
● To big or too small
● Animals without the necessary pigmentation
● White or black above the lower body line, or, in black animals, white or brown above the lower body
● Too coarse or too fine a bone structure
● Poor balance, especially in cows that are heavy in the forequarters and bulls that are light in the hindquarters
● Wry mouth or nose bone
● Flat, hanging or roofy rump
● Wry tail setting or a tail setting that is too deeply implanted
● Straight-hocked (straight hock with little or no curve)
● Cow-hocked (edges of hocks close together)
● Sickle-hocked (with the bottom of the back leg turned a lot to the front from the tarsal hock joint)
● Forelegs knock-kneed or bow-legged
● Hind legs turned to the inside
● Woolly or curly coat
● Matted curl
● Too long a head
● Rambling
● Pony-like
● A completely black or blue muzzle, or a white and brown muzzle in black animals
● Bad temperament: too listless or too wild
● Bulls with a female or ox-like appearance. Weak eye-brow ridge development and flat neck
● Female animals with male or ox-like appearance. Little or no udder and teat development, especially in heifers
● Excessive fat deposits on the brisket, hips and pins
● Misshapen genitals and a scrotum circumference that is lower than the minimum requirement:
a) One testicle
b) Testicles turned more than 45˚ and turned of epidiymus (side testicle)
c) Hypo-placement (one normal testicle and one smaller one)
d) Absence of side testicles
e) A dangling, prominent sheath, or sheath with a large opening (prolaps)
● Excessively long or short bottom jaw
● Devil’s grip
● Hollow or roach-back
● Weak pasterns:
a) Dewclaws touch the ground
b) Short stiff and upright pastures
● Poor muscling especially at bulls
Cross Breeding
Crossbreeding increases production efficiency because of hybrid vigour, and allows complementary traits of parents to be combined to produce progeny better suited to different environments or markets. Crossbreeding through the use of Limousin terminal sires in purebred British breed cow herds allows the complementary traits of higher marbling and fat cover provided by the British breed cows, and required or preferred by some markets, to be combined with the higher yield and feed conversion efficiency of Limousin sires.
Crossbred cows produce up to, and in some cases in excess of, 20% more weaned calf weight as a result of increased reproductive performance and maternal ability. Crossbred cow longevity is also increased by up to two years when compared with straightbred cows. However, the benefits of hybrid vigour in a crossbred cow decline in subsequent generations if progeny are mated to cattle of parentage similar to the cow, and increase if a new breed is introduced. Although studies acknowledge that the major production benefits of hybrid vigour occur in crossbred cow herds, the main use of Limousins outside of Europe continues to be as terminal sires in purebred British breed cow herds.
Progeny of two parents of different breeds are termed F1 hybrids, F1 crosses or first crosses. F1 hybrids generally have an extremely uniform phenotype and benefit from hybrid vigour. These advantages are observed in the breeding of a wide variety of animals and plants, and arise because progeny inherit one of each paired gene from each parent. When both parents are homozygous for different variants of genes (known as alleles), which is likely to be the case when a breed has been developed and selected over several generations, progeny will inherit both gene variants present in the parents. The F1 hybrid progeny will then be heterozygous for each gene variant, which in turn increases the likelihood that the genes will code for an optimal protein or enzyme. This is the genetic basis of hybrid vigour. While many gene variants have effects that are of little consequence to beef production, a few, such as the myostatin variants found in different cattle breeds, have a major effect.
Loss of hybrid vigour occurs and phenotype varies greatly in subsequent generations if F1 hybrids are inter-bred or backcrossed with animals genetically similar to the F1 parent. Inter-bred F1 hybrids will produce progeny that can be either heterozygous for each gene variant, homozygous for one gene variant, or homozygous for the other gene variant. When one of the variants has a large effect on a trait, for example the effect of myostatin variants on muscularity, larger phenotypic variation will occur among the progeny. Backcross progeny will have less phenotypic variation and comprise animals that are either heterozygous for each gene variant or homozygous for the variant found in the original F1 backcross parent.
A third form of progeny arises when F1 hybrids are bred with animals genetically dissimilar to their parents. If heterozygosity is maintained or increased as a result, hybrid vigour and other production benefits occurring in the F1 generation will be maintained or increased. Maintenance of heterozygosity is the key to maintaining the highest levels of hybrid vigour. This requires complex breeding programs and high levels of management. Simplified crossbreeding programs have been developed using hybrid or composite bulls, which was the motivation behind the development of Lim-Flex hybrids.
The two major Limousin hybrids are Brahmousin (a cross between Brahman and Limousin cattle)) and Lim-Flex (a cross between Angus and Limousin cattle), which were both developed before the significance of the F94L myostatin variant had been quantified. When Limousins homozygous for the F94L myostatin mutation are used in crossbreeding, only one of the mutations will be inherited (that is, progeny will be heterozygous for the mutation), and a high level of phenotypic uniformity and hybrid vigour would be expected in the progeny. However, breeding using heterozygous animals as parents, which could include purebred Limousins of low percentage Full French content, and Lim-Flex and Brahmousin hybrids that have not been bred to a uniform (homozygous) standard over several generations, would produce progeny with inconsistent carcase characteristics and production value depending upon whether or not the F94L mutation was inherited.
The use of Lim-Flex and Brahmousin sires over a third breed of cow would benefit most from increased hybrid vigour, which should minimise any reduction in carcase value arising from the loss of the F94L mutation.
According to research into the effects of the F94L mutation, live weights of progeny are unaffected by random inheritance of the mutation.
Crossbred cows produce up to, and in some cases in excess of, 20% more weaned calf weight as a result of increased reproductive performance and maternal ability. Crossbred cow longevity is also increased by up to two years when compared with straightbred cows. However, the benefits of hybrid vigour in a crossbred cow decline in subsequent generations if progeny are mated to cattle of parentage similar to the cow, and increase if a new breed is introduced. Although studies acknowledge that the major production benefits of hybrid vigour occur in crossbred cow herds, the main use of Limousins outside of Europe continues to be as terminal sires in purebred British breed cow herds.
Progeny of two parents of different breeds are termed F1 hybrids, F1 crosses or first crosses. F1 hybrids generally have an extremely uniform phenotype and benefit from hybrid vigour. These advantages are observed in the breeding of a wide variety of animals and plants, and arise because progeny inherit one of each paired gene from each parent. When both parents are homozygous for different variants of genes (known as alleles), which is likely to be the case when a breed has been developed and selected over several generations, progeny will inherit both gene variants present in the parents. The F1 hybrid progeny will then be heterozygous for each gene variant, which in turn increases the likelihood that the genes will code for an optimal protein or enzyme. This is the genetic basis of hybrid vigour. While many gene variants have effects that are of little consequence to beef production, a few, such as the myostatin variants found in different cattle breeds, have a major effect.
Loss of hybrid vigour occurs and phenotype varies greatly in subsequent generations if F1 hybrids are inter-bred or backcrossed with animals genetically similar to the F1 parent. Inter-bred F1 hybrids will produce progeny that can be either heterozygous for each gene variant, homozygous for one gene variant, or homozygous for the other gene variant. When one of the variants has a large effect on a trait, for example the effect of myostatin variants on muscularity, larger phenotypic variation will occur among the progeny. Backcross progeny will have less phenotypic variation and comprise animals that are either heterozygous for each gene variant or homozygous for the variant found in the original F1 backcross parent.
A third form of progeny arises when F1 hybrids are bred with animals genetically dissimilar to their parents. If heterozygosity is maintained or increased as a result, hybrid vigour and other production benefits occurring in the F1 generation will be maintained or increased. Maintenance of heterozygosity is the key to maintaining the highest levels of hybrid vigour. This requires complex breeding programs and high levels of management. Simplified crossbreeding programs have been developed using hybrid or composite bulls, which was the motivation behind the development of Lim-Flex hybrids.
The two major Limousin hybrids are Brahmousin (a cross between Brahman and Limousin cattle)) and Lim-Flex (a cross between Angus and Limousin cattle), which were both developed before the significance of the F94L myostatin variant had been quantified. When Limousins homozygous for the F94L myostatin mutation are used in crossbreeding, only one of the mutations will be inherited (that is, progeny will be heterozygous for the mutation), and a high level of phenotypic uniformity and hybrid vigour would be expected in the progeny. However, breeding using heterozygous animals as parents, which could include purebred Limousins of low percentage Full French content, and Lim-Flex and Brahmousin hybrids that have not been bred to a uniform (homozygous) standard over several generations, would produce progeny with inconsistent carcase characteristics and production value depending upon whether or not the F94L mutation was inherited.
The use of Lim-Flex and Brahmousin sires over a third breed of cow would benefit most from increased hybrid vigour, which should minimise any reduction in carcase value arising from the loss of the F94L mutation.
According to research into the effects of the F94L mutation, live weights of progeny are unaffected by random inheritance of the mutation.
The Limousin Gene
Invest in Limousin genetics and take advantage of the unique Limousin Muscling Gene which can get your beef herd producing up to:
19% more high value cuts
8% more in yield of retail cuts
6 -11% more tenderness
...with no extra feed!
What is the function of the Myostatin gene?
A normally functioning myostatin gene inhibits muscle growth. A mutation of this gene reduces its
powers to switch off the multiplication of muscle fibres which can result in an increase of the size
and number of muscle fibres. There are nine known mutations of the myostatin gene of which six are
“loss of function” mutations meaning they inactivate the myostatin gene causing muscular hypertrophy
(larger muscle fibres) and hyperplasia (more muscle fibres). The best known mutation is the 11 pair
deletion nt821 which has a high frequency in the Belgian Blue breed causing the typical “double
muscling” effect. This mutation also occurs in low frequencies in other breeds such as the Angus,
Murray Grey and South Devon breeds.
What is different about the Limousin muscling gene?
The mutation known as F94L which has a high frequency in the Limousin breed is one of three
missence mutations which does not cause a loss of function of the myostatin gene. It appears not to
cause an increase in the size of the muscle fibres but does cause an increase in the number of muscle
fibres. It is not associated with high levels of calving difficulty or lowered fertility and longevity
What are the effects of the Limousin muscling gene?
The research conducted by the Adelaide University group led by Dr Wayne Pitchford has clearly
documented the effects of the Limousin muscling gene as shown below.
How big is the effect if I use a Limousin bull over cows of another breed?
Most Limousin bulls carry two copies of the Limousin muscling gene so each of the progeny will get one
copy of the Limousin muscling gene. Animals with one copy of the gene are likely to exhibit about half
the differences shown above. A Limousin cross calf is expected to have about 9.5% more silverside, 9.5%
more eye muscle area 4% more retail beef yield, with a 3% increase in tenderness of the loin muscle and
5.5% more tender silverside
19% more high value cuts
8% more in yield of retail cuts
6 -11% more tenderness
...with no extra feed!
What is the function of the Myostatin gene?
A normally functioning myostatin gene inhibits muscle growth. A mutation of this gene reduces its
powers to switch off the multiplication of muscle fibres which can result in an increase of the size
and number of muscle fibres. There are nine known mutations of the myostatin gene of which six are
“loss of function” mutations meaning they inactivate the myostatin gene causing muscular hypertrophy
(larger muscle fibres) and hyperplasia (more muscle fibres). The best known mutation is the 11 pair
deletion nt821 which has a high frequency in the Belgian Blue breed causing the typical “double
muscling” effect. This mutation also occurs in low frequencies in other breeds such as the Angus,
Murray Grey and South Devon breeds.
What is different about the Limousin muscling gene?
The mutation known as F94L which has a high frequency in the Limousin breed is one of three
missence mutations which does not cause a loss of function of the myostatin gene. It appears not to
cause an increase in the size of the muscle fibres but does cause an increase in the number of muscle
fibres. It is not associated with high levels of calving difficulty or lowered fertility and longevity
What are the effects of the Limousin muscling gene?
The research conducted by the Adelaide University group led by Dr Wayne Pitchford has clearly
documented the effects of the Limousin muscling gene as shown below.
How big is the effect if I use a Limousin bull over cows of another breed?
Most Limousin bulls carry two copies of the Limousin muscling gene so each of the progeny will get one
copy of the Limousin muscling gene. Animals with one copy of the gene are likely to exhibit about half
the differences shown above. A Limousin cross calf is expected to have about 9.5% more silverside, 9.5%
more eye muscle area 4% more retail beef yield, with a 3% increase in tenderness of the loin muscle and
5.5% more tender silverside