This year marks 50 years since the Limousin breed arrived on Australian shores and to celebrate, it was picked to be the feature breed at the Melbourne Royal Show.
Drawing in 110 Limousin exhibits from all over the country, the top honour, supreme Limousin exhibit, was awarded to a NSW stud.
Flemington Limousin stud, Adelong, NSW, has had success at various shows throughout the years, including the Sydney Royal Show earlier this year, and took out supreme at Melbourne with their young cow Flemington Black Lynx S31.
Flemington Limousin stud manager Donna Robson said there was strong competition in the Limousin line up, so it was "pretty exciting" to win grand champion female, and even moreso to win supreme exhibit.
"The cow was shown as a heifer, and to finally win a major title [with her] at a royal show is pretty exciting," Ms Robson said.
The two-year-old cow gave birth about a month prior to the show, giving the Robson family limited preparation time.
Ms Robson said she was pulled in from the paddock to prepare the day after giving birth.
"She's probably out of one of our most-dominant cow families in our herd," she said.
"Her grandma was the top-priced cow from Red Rock [Limousin stud, Walcha, NSW] dispersal sale and her progeny averaged $19,000.
"Our reserve junior heifer had that cow in her pedigree as well, so she wasn't a fluke."
Ms Robson believed it was a combination of her thickness, softness and productivity with her first calf at foot, led by son Sam Robson, that got her over the line.
"She's a very-sound, functional type of female which obviously the judge appreciated," she said.
The cow had estimated breeding values of a 200-day weight of +34 kilograms, 400-day weight of +58kg, and an eye muscle area of +3 square centimetres, which Ms Robson said put her in the top 10 per cent for positive fat and EMA, which was a unique combination in a Limousin animal.
Flemington Black Lynx will go into a flush program later this year and the Robson family will show her at the Sydney Royal Show and at Beef Australia in Rockhampton, Qld, next year.
Limousin judge David Bondfield, Dalveen, Qld, said he had set himself quite the task in deciding supreme Limousin exhibit, with an "exceptional line up of cattle", particularly in the two grand champions.
"I'm really happy to end up with these type of cattle," he said.
"[They're] super sound, have the right maturity pattern, a tremendous carcase and really-good functionality.
"They're not over powered and I like cattle that can put plenty of carcase in there but also hit some cover, so we hit those premium ribs, and these are cattle that tick all those boxes."
Grand champion Limousin bull of the show was awarded to Aruma Thor, Aruma Limousin stud, Korunye, SA.
Aruma stud principal Phoebe Eckermann was unable to attend the show due to a wedding being held on the same day, but watched online at the Stock & Land livestream.
Ms Eckermann said her brother text her right as the wedding party were having photos taken with the news of their win, and she was "ecstatic".
"It was just so exciting," she said.
"And thank you to the Eclipse Cattle Services team (who showed the cattle for her), we're really thankful of them."
She said it took months of preparation to get her cattle in good condition, with feeding, grooming, leading and a warm up at the Adelaide Royal Show earlier this year, where he took out supreme exhibit.
She said Aruma Thor had a sirey outlook, as well as good structure and muscling.
She started the stud when she was 15-years-old.
She said she fell in love with cattle after her family moved to regional SA after living in the city until the age of 12.
"Originally I was attracted to Limousins because of their temperament," she said.
"And I admired them for their carcase traits.
"We've been breeding since 2015 and I started through the youth movement, going to heifer shows and just really got involved in the beef industry from there and then got into Limousins."
Now 24-years-old and with various awards for her cattle under her belt, Ms Eckermann's stud runs about 20 head.
"All of my cattle go with that same breeding, with an aim to be structurally-correct, easy-doing, powerful cattle," she said.
Holly McGuinness
Holly is a journalist for Australian Community Media, covering South Coast, NSW. As a born and bred Shoalhaven local, she's passionate about covering community concerns and amplifying local voices. To get in contact, email holly.mcguinness@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Holly is a journalist for Australian Community Media, covering South Coast, NSW. As a born and bred Shoalhaven local, she's passionate about covering community concerns and amplifying local voices. To get in contact, email holly.mcguinness@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
