Studies have shown that it costs five times as much to win a new customer as it does to retain one you already have. Yet companies allocate six times as much to the expensive process of trying to generate new customers as they do the less expensive process of trying to retain the customers they already have. Are you guilty of falling into this trap?

Studies have also shown that 90 percent of unhappy customers never buy from you again. Even worse, dissatisfied customers, on the average tell nine other people about their bad experience. As a result, one aspect of your customer service program should be focused around eliminating the causes of unhappy customers and dealing effectively with them.

Companies who emphasize customer service gain market share at a faster rate, have a higher percent return on sales, and are able to charge more for their product and or services than companies who place a low emphasis on service. As individual breeders, and as a breed, we probably have been guilty of spending too much time, effort and money trying to acquire new customers and not enough on keeping and servicing the customers we already have.

Customer service does more than merely improve the short-term financials. Loyal customers spread the word about your program and Limousin cattle. Maybe most importantly, by developing a relationship with your customers they will tend to have a vested interest in your success. The customer can actually help you in building a better product and will help you do a better job of servicing his or her needs.

Customer service is about making your business stronger and more profitable. Customer service increases the percentage of business you do with individual customers while your marketing and promotional programs are designed to create new customers.

If you have a strong relationship with a customer they are less likely to leave you for another supplier just because he is selling his product a little cheaper. A close relationship will help you to know the needs, desires and expectations of your customer. Customer service is about becoming involved in your customers' programs and helping them achieve greater results. This knowledge, if used properly, will make it almost impossible for someone else to take that customer away.

More on Zinger
I had a quick note from member and recognised judge Ron Short to say that he came across the $7400 Zinger when judging at the Boonah Show in May this year. He made Zinger the Grand Champion steer at Boomah in what he described as very strong steer classes.
"This was the best steer I can remember seeing - incredible volume of muscle throughout but more importantly he had optimum fat cover and distribution", said Ron.

"Limousin Fest" Without Zinger
It appears that Zinger did not front at the Farmfest Competition near Toowoomba but plenty of his mates did. (Zinger has obviously retired on the Gold Coast with his Rockhampton winnings).
In the Schools classes which included 80 of the 131 steers/heifers in the competition Limousin and Limousin cross cattle took eight of the first 10 places in the light weight class placing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.
In the heavy weight Schools class Limousin also took eight of 10 places with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
In the six open classes Limousin won five of the six classes.
Class 1 2, 3 (1st was a Murray Grey X ?)
Class 2 1, 2, 3
Class 3 1, 2, 3, 4
Class 4 1, 2, 3, 4
Class 5 1, 2
Class 6 1

To top the day off the Grand Champion led animal was "Baldy" the Champion school steer and winner of class 6.
Baldy was a Limousin X Simmental steer weighing 631kg and paraded by John Stephens of the Greenslopes Limousin Stud at Pittsworth Qld.
Runner up was a Limousin by the name of "Turbulence" and exhibited by Zingers owners Neil & Rachel Goetsch from Kalbar.

It is never too late
Probably should have let you know a bit closer to the event, but, better late than never.
Denise and I entered a purebred steer (self bred) into the Barry Conroy Memorial Carcass Competition for the Esk (Qld) Show this year.
This required a HSCW of 175 kg to 240 kg after 100 days in a feedlot. There were seventeen entries and all cattle were in the same feedlot.
This was our first attempt at any competition, so we were delighted to have our entry judged second on the hoof the week before slaughter. This delight continued after slaughter as our steer won the highest dressing percentage with 62.63% and had an EMA of 120 (Charolais and Charbray people couldn't get over that). With combined hoof and hook points he was second overall.
He was ten months old at slaughter.
Yours in Limousin,
Nev and Denise Rosser.
Danross Limousin Stud at Lowood Qld

For a first try that is a very good result with a purebred Limo at 10 months. Hope you can go one better next year.

This must be a Record
A 480kg milk vealer aged about 10 months of age sold for 251 c/kg liveweight or $1205 at the Mount Gambier (SA) saleyards this week.
The calf sold by Keith Henke from Mumbannar near Mount Gambier was by a Limousin bull from a Friesian X cow. When interviewed on the radio program ABC Country Hour yesterday, Mr Henke who is a Limousin breeder said "It is great to see the Limousin breed being recognised for just how good it is".

Warragul Sale Toppers 30 June
1 milk vealer 320kg @ 204.6 c/kg = $654
Acc W & P McCormack, Drouin

2 milk vealers 320kg @ 203.6 c/kg = $651
Acc G & H Sell, Buln Buln

1 milk vealer 365kg @ 198.6 c/kg = $724
Acc P & L Dashwood, Garfield

1 yearling heifer 445kg @ 183.6 c/kg = $817

Wodonga Sale Toppers 29 June
8 yearling steers 407.5kg @ 216 c/kg = $880.20
Acc I.L. Scott, Walbundie NSW

Don't Oppose NLIS
The amount of opposition to the National Livestock Identification System astounds me.
Two more incidents around the world in recent weeks highlight just how important NLIS is to Australia. There have been two more suspected cases of BSE in the USA (one has since been confirmed as negative) and there is a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Brazil.
The ability to rapidly trace where these cattle have been since birth is critical to controlling disease and assuring importing countries that it is controlled.
The USA are still locked out of Japan and Korea because they cannot trace many of the 85 head of dairy cows imported from Canada which included the case of BSE discovered in May. The Canadian cattle industry is still suffering from their cases of BSE discovered two years ago.
The Australian share of Japanese imports to Japan have risen from 46% pre BSE in the USA to 93% with record shipments in June.
Good for Australia but imagine the impact on our beef industry if there is a case of BSE in Australia which can't be traced.
The NLIS system is not perfect and still has some electronic bugs but if we can accurately trace 90% of our cattle at the press of a button we are a long way ahead. Deferring implementation for one year would be a crazy decision.


Yours in record breaking Limousin

Alex McDonald