EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
by Mark Anderson
Executive Director
North American Limousin Foundation
N
ALF and its Board of Directors are engaged in many new
projects as we begin the new decade in order to promote and
propagate Limousin genetics throughout the United States. Some of
these are science based and will back up the usefulness of Limousin
genetics with hard data that is incorporated in the new technologies of
single-step cattle evaluations and DNA testing. Others are a different
approach to advertising and getting the word out on the advancements
breeders have made in their breeding programs in a digital age.
One of the most exciting will be the start of the Limousin Cowherd
Project in conjunction with Neogen/GeneSeek later this summer.
Given tight operating margins in the cattle business, all entities
realize the cost of genomically testing cattle can be burdensome.
Most breeders understand the value the testing brings to finding not
only superior cattle given the progeny equivalents that come with
testing, but also the early tip on inferior cattle. At this stage, most
producers are testing their A.I. sires and donor dams, in addition to
their bulls that are offered for sale to the commercial cowman. What
is lacking, due to cost, is the ability to have the female side of you
herds genotyped.
With the cowherd project, we will be able to take advantage of getting
our cowherds genotyped for less than half the current cost of a 50K test
through the research program at Neogen/GeneSeek. This is important
to many members because if you stop and think about it, your cowherd
is the factory you keep every year to make your genetics that are offered
to the public. Genotyping these females at a research cost will not only
add accuracy to the cattle, but also enhance your ability to do matings
when comparing A.I. sires for potential usage each year.
The project details and requirements will be worked through the
Breed Improvement Committee this Spring and then the full board.
Similar to other breeds that have taken this project on, you will
need to be a member of the whole herd reporting program (LIMS).
Participants will be required to send in DNA on 90% of their mature
cows to qualify for the research price. Once the member has qualified
as a participant, then we would enable that member to get the same
research price on their replacement heifers every year to keep their
cowherd current for genomically enhanced EPDs.
You will hear more about the project early this summer and full
details will be released once we have worked the program through
the Breed Improvement committee, full board, as well as obtaining
the final approval from the Neogen/GeneSeek team. Regular prices
for testing on A.I. sires, donor dams, bulls and other females will
remain the same. The research project is an attempt to gather more
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females into the National Cattle Evaluations at a more affordable cost
to producers and increase the accuracy of the genetic evaluation.
Advertising and promoting the breed has taken a different direction
this year since the sale of the magazine to Limousin365. The
commercial marketing committee has taken a different approach for
the association and promotion of Limousin and Lim-Flex® cattle with
advertising the benefits of utilizing the genetics in their commercial
cowherds. NALF has contracted various advertising contracts with
Superior Livestock, Working Ranch Magazine, DV Auction and
American Cattlemen with advertising packages that include print,
digital media, radio spots, press releases and website advertising to
potentially reach more commercial buyers in a digital age.
In addition to contract advertisers, Mallory Blunier has also redone
all of the advertising and promotional material we are currently using
to promote our genetics. You have most likely seen some of this on the
NALF Facebook page and other social media outlets. If states or regional
associations would like to utilize some of the newly worked up advertising
and digital promotional flyers, contact Mallory via phone or email.
The Limousin breed also had some great news released earlier this
year at the NCBA convention in San Antonio by GrowSafe Systems®.
GrowSafe is now releasing and publishing their Top 150 Proven Sires
list on an annual basis. This release is proof of what many Limousin
and Lim-Flex® breeders have known for a long time, the cattle have
superior feed efficiency!
Limousin placed 11 bulls in GrowSafe Systems® 2020 list of the
Top 150 Proven bull list for Residual Feed Intake, (RFI). Wulfs
Xcellsior also achieved the number 1 ranking for RFI on the Top 150
Proven Bull List. NALF (North American Limousin Foundation) also
listed seven bulls in the top 35 RFI ranking and all 11 head were in the
top 100! Additionally, many of the NALF bulls that are included in
the top 150 list have the most progeny listed for increased accuracy of
the data provided. Congratulations to Wulf Cattle and the Limousin
breeders for providing superior genetics that add real dollars to the
commercial cattle business’s bottom line!
At the time I am writing this article we have just begun the bull sale
season. Early sales have been very successful as we begin the new season.
As you work to promote the use of Limousin and Lim-Flex genetics to
potential new customers, remember to convey to folks the real benefits
of using both Limousin and Lim-Flex® genetics into their cow herds.
For a potential customer that has an English based set of commercial
• APRIL 2020
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