Limousin cattle breeders selling at nominated premier collective sales will have to be members of and adhere to terms of a CHeCS licenced Herd Health Scheme, from May 1, 2011, in a bid to provide the pedigree and commercial sector with cattle that combine an assured and known health status.

In a major extension to its herd health policies, British Limousin Cattle Society chairman, Jim Bloom, said: “Delivering animals to the market place with a known health status is a real added value benefit to both pedigree breeders, and equally importantly, to the commercial customer and industry.

“Health testing and ongoing herd health management will not only improve herd health but it will also help profitability for both the pedigree breeder and the commercial beef producer alike. Purchasers, both pedigree and commercial, want to buy breeding stock with a known health status. It is very much an expectation that this new policy will build on that principle,” he said.