CHANGE isn't bad according to Mistletoe Limousin stud principal Denis O'Connor, who forecasts a popularity shift towards the meaty animal in the coming years as the breed's major traits are recognised.
The introduction of the French pure polled Limousin in Australia to meet commercial producers demands has been a major tick for the breed. Numbers of poll animals have increased from 20 per cent in 2000 to 65pc in 2013.
The stud's move from the polled upgrade animal to the French pure polled began in 2012 and was motivated by a commercial client not wanting to dehorn, but still looking for the Limousin traits of muscle, ease of calving, docility and growth.
"While the horned cattle carcase may be slightly better, the polled have bridged the gap quickly through embryo transplants," he said.
"Major studs understand the increased demand for polled animals and have invested heavily in embryo transplants so the change has evolved quickly."
Temperament was an issue when the breed was introduced to Australia in 1970s.
But the Limousin Society introduced a Docility Scoring system two decades ago, which has seen the docility of the Limousin improve to such an extent that other breeds are following suit with a similar system.
Mistletoe has had a focus on this trait right from the beginning and now boasts a herd of good temperament.
Currently the Estimated Breeding Values of Mistletoe stud av +22kg at 200 days, just above the Limousin average, and a docility score of +25 for the herd average, but the aim is to improve both of these traits, while retaining ease of calving.
Mr O'Connor hopes to see greater numbers of commercial herds of Limousin rather than being used solely as a terminal sire for first-cross cows.
"One of the things we have improved is their milking ability because they started as a beef animal without much milk but now they milk well and finish their calves," he said.
"With mine I don't have any extreme animals, I aim for the medium-framed so they calve alright and put the weight on.
"It has taken 15 years to get to the stage from looking at the ones to keep to looking for ones I need to move on. The consistent quality of the progeny makes it difficult to choose and some of those culled are as good as or better than many in other herds.
"Size of the stud doesn't impact my product as the commercial buyers know they're buying quality, guaranteed animals whose progeny will increase their bottom line."
Mistletoe calves down 25 autumn and 25 spring cows.
All cows are artificially inseminated with a success rate of just under 80pc.
Ionesco, Obiwan and the polled Cyan Po are the traditional French genetics used, while newer French pure polled genetics are sourced from America, SVL Polled Exclusive and Jim Dandie – to take the stud in a new direction.
The stud initially invested in Limousin to improve traits in its crossbred calves, but was impressed with the progeny.
They made a premium of 10-15 cents per kilogram for heifers and steers, compared to the British breeds and the dairy first-cross animals, Mr O'Connor said.
The focus on-farm then shifted quickly on establishing a Limousin stud to capitalise on all the benefits of the breed.
"The butchers always knock them down at a premium because their carcase has more of the prime cuts and less waste," Mr O'Connor said.
"Their backsides are a lot bigger than the British breeds and the Limo seems to have less trouble with the calving.
"The commercial clients I have use the bulls on first-cross cows or British cows to increase the prime cuts, and to increase the price for the heifer portion of their animals."
He said the majority of his clients were sending the steers and heifers straight to the butchers at eight to nine months-old, weighing about 350kg.
