Genestar Tests
A total of 20 Limousins have been tested for the Genestar marbling and tenderness gene markers. As expected 70 percent of those tested have two copies of the tenderness marker and the remaining 30 percent have one copy of the tenderness marker. Of the 18 tested for the marbling marker 50 percent have one copy of the marker and 50 percent have no copies. So far no animals tested have two copies of the marbling marker which is not surprising for Limousins.
There are probably about 6 to 10 genes which have a major influence on each of marbling and tenderness and at this stage we only have a marker for one of these genes for each trait.
You can check on the Limousin animals tested for the gene markers by going to www.geneticsolutions.com.au and searching for Limousin in the results section.
The results for tested animals are also on the Limousin website under animals search. Check the animal CAS PV 076 as an example.
Sale Toppers
The run of new season vealers are starting to come through saleyards. As usual Limousin cross vealers are topping the markets. In Wodonga last week five Limo X steer vealers made 225 c/kg or $801.
The top five steer vealer sales were all Limo X calves and included a member Darren Turner who sold three steer vealers for 215 c/kg or $763. The top heifer vealers were Limo cross and made 214.6 c/kg or $719.
Two yearling Limousin heifers made 210 c/kg or $814 with the next best price for heifers being 186.6 c/kg for Angus X heifers. The top seven pens of yearling heifers ranged down to 165 c/kg for Angus which is a difference of 45 c/kg liveweight!!
I am sure this picture is repeated in saleyards across Australia.
More Carcase Success
A Limousin X steer was the Champion on Hoof at the strongly contested Geelong Show Competition in Victoria. Today's news is that a Limousin X Angus was Grand Champion carcase at Geelong.
Limousin and Limousin X cattle dominated the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society Competition in Qld. Winning six of the seven classes and Champion single animal on hoof. The champion was a 690 kg Limousin exhibited by Allan and Valda Crawford of Kingaroy. The Crawfords won three of the seven classes with Limousin and Limousin X calves.
Limousins were also prominent in the hook classes winning three of the seven classes and Limousin X winning Champion Heavyweight Carcase and Champion Grainfed Carcase.
Most successful exhibitors were Bill and Nancy Cross who show predominantly Limousin and Limousin X Murray Grey calves.