BEEF producers relying on Limousin genetics can now select bulls more suited to their production system with a new round of estimated breeding values featuring slaughter records

For the first time, estimated breeding values published by the British Limousin Cattle Society will include slaughter records from six new national abattoir groups in its calculations.

The project delivers the UK’s first genomic breeding values for individual carcase cuts, carcase weight and age to slaughter, and it delivers a major goal within the breed’s 10-year breed improvement plan.

Furthermore, the project which was completed in partnership with ABP Food Group and Scotland’s Rural College, provides pedigree and commercial farmers with a means of measuring and identifying the high performance genetics for the abattoir traits that are directly rewarded in the market place.

This latest move, utilising carcase records from widespread abattoirs in the UK, further reinforce the accuracy and independence of some of the key carcase traits, most notably age to slaughter, carcase weight and fat depth.

In all, 273,397 new Limousin records representing 10,692 Limousin sires have been added to the evaluation. Information from BCMS is used to link these to the existing pool of pedigree information with this huge set of data used to produce the EBVs.

SRUC geneticist, Dr Kirsty Moore, said: “For Limousin, this new data represents a significant portion of the national slaughter population.

“All are by Limousin sires, but of course the majority of animals are cross-bred, so the analysis is designed to account for the effects of the other breeds and hybrid vigour when breeding values are produced.”

She added that carcase traits are all moderately heritable – at a very similar level to growth – so there is much to gain by selecting high genetic merit breeding stock.

“Age to slaughter, in particular, is a key driver for most beef producing enterprises, with a study done at SRUC showing that reducing age at slaughter substantially increases an enterprise’s profitability.

“It has a high heritability of 63%, which means that around 63% of the variation observed in a group of cattle is under genetic control. Selecting breeding stock with high genetic merit for it makes absolute sense and will deliver direct savings in efficiency”

Dr Moore continued: “As a result of the extra data, these EBVs are more robust than we have previously been able to produce and relate directly to key areas of performance within the commercial sector.

“This in turn should further stimulate commercial producers to source bulls with favourable carcase trait genetics and trap added value from the Limousin cattle they produce.”