Graffoe Limousins
News and Media Coverage
Field Day - 9th February 2010
Despite the 41C heat, Graffoe had a steady flow of visitors
throughout the day. Visitors came from as far away as Mount Barker
in the north, Mount Gambier in the south, Lameroo in the east, with many also
from the local area.
Visiting beef producers were very knowledgeable of the benefits of using Limousin bulls over British breed cows, in particular easy calving, higher yield, and greater premiums for the healthy tender meat. The breed is clearly becoming more popular as word gets out about Limousin's superior qualities, which have been demonstrated time and time again by the breed's major successes in many recent carcase competitions.
Apricot and black grass-fed bulls were on offer - older bulls had sold out earlier.
On the day, four 14 - 18 month bulls were sold together with seven Limousin/Angus
crossbred 2nd calvers in calf to a Neophin sired stud bull. One
young bull will be taking up duties as a herd sire at a new Limousin stud near
Mount Gambier.
The bulls' quiet disposition, quality and presentation were remarked on by all visitors, as was their tolerance to the heat.
Graffoe now carries out its own artificial insemination and next year's offering will include progeny of French and US sires with the best of muscling.
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| Bulls relaxing in the 41C heat | Visitors Darryl (left) and Kent Lewellyn (Robertson's AI) inspecting some of the stud's bulls, with Frank Burden (co-principal) on the right |
Graffoe Reserve Champion and class winner in 2009 Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic
We
added to our 2008 prizes in the Southern
Grassfed Carcase Classic with Reserve Champion carcase (out of 210
entries), which was also the winning carcase in the 261 to 340kg class
(62 entries), maximum two teeth, with a score of 86.99 points. Another
of our carcases was awarded 2nd prize in the 180 to 260kg
class (38 entries), maximum two teeth, behind the Grand Champion, also
Limousin-sired.
This no fuss, straight-from-the-paddock competition, under the objective MLA ABCAS appraisal system (666kB PDF file), which includes measures of retail meat yield and MSA eating quality, has to be the most relevant for all graziers to benchmark their cattle.
Graffoe-sired animals have been the most successful of all straight- and cross-bred entries over the past two Classics.
The Classic, although only running for two years, has
proved to be a show case for Limousins as Limousin cross cattle have now
won prizes in all weight classes, including four firsts.
This year 50 competitors from Victoria and South Australia entered cattle, which represented most British and European breeds and their crosses.
2009 turned out to be truly classic year for Limousins across Australia. In addition, Limousin grain-fed purebred steers achieved what was thought to be the impossible by winning the Grand Slam of all five trophies for Group of Three Steers on Hoof and Hook at Royal Shows in Australian Capital cities.
Media coverage:
Border Chronicle (1 December 2009)
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