Rockalen Pastoral Company Testimonial



Limousin bloodlines are boosting profit in a range of commercial cattle enterprises across the country thanks to improved carcase attributes and hybrid vigour. Anthony and Tanya Allen run a commercial cattle operation “Rockalen Pastoral Company” near Wilalooka in South Australia. They mate around 900 British breed cows, of which 600 are currently joined to Limousin sires with the balance joined to Angus bulls.

Anthony originally started buying Limousins over 25 years ago when they were producing vealers due to their increased “muscle growth and yield”. As his cattle enterprise has evolved to finishing heavier animals for Woolworths Anthony has been “happy to stick with Limousins because of their high yield and hybrid vigour”.

“While a lot of people have shifted to angus and kept with Angus for feeder steer production, we’ve gone a little bit different … I wanted to sell a carcase that was ready to be killed”.

The increased dressing percentages provided by the Limousin sire mean the progeny can be killed at lower liveweights.

This in combination with the improved growth rates means allows the family to turn off animals at 280-300kg carcase weight “as early as of 12-13months of age.” Limousin progeny that reach target weights earlier require less grain to finish and consequently save costs while being more efficient.

For this reason Anthony sells his Angus steers as weaners as “the Angus progeny don’t finish as well due to the hybrid vigour and yield of the Limousins.” The advantages that the Limousin provides to Anthony’s cattle enterprise have led him to join his Heifers to Limousin sires as well. “We also mate heifers to Limousins now to get a growthier calf in the first year than straight Angus.”

Since joining Angus heifers to Limousins Anthony has had nearly no issues with calving difficulties. “We’ve been focusing on a lower birthweight for that regard … while continuing to select on 400 day weight and eye muscle area”.

Anthony has also never had a Docility problem with his Limousins. “From the start we chose high docility bulls and we’ve had angus bulls more up it here than limos. Docility is just not an issue these days.”