About Limousin Cattle

Limousin are a common cattle breed used in beef production. Originating in Europe, this bovine breed is consistent in size and shape, and is known for its desirable breeding and growth-rate characteristics that make it ideal for meat production. It is the most popular beef breed in Europe and the third most popular beef breed in the Unites States.

  1. Appearance

    • With a medium-size frame, Limousin cattle are typically a deep shade of gold with slightly lighter coloring around the eyes, nose and lower portion of the legs. Some lines, originating in Australia, are black. The breed is characterized by heavy muscling that produces a high carcass yield, making it ideal for beef production. A typical Limousin cow weighs 1,540 pounds, while a bull can weigh upward of 2,600 pounds.

    Temperament

    • A quiet, relaxed beef-production animal is ideal, because a nervous or high-strung one will not gain weight as quickly as a calm, sedate animal. Limousin cattle previously had a reputation as flighty, erratic animals, but according to Lauren Hyde of Beef Magazine, industrywide initiatives in the 1990s worked to cull breeding animals based on temperament, and have on average created a more docile breed than previously existed.

    Beef-Production Characteristics

    • There are a number of qualities that make Limousin cattle ideal for beef production. The breed is known for easy calving because of low birth weight calves. This reduces the labor and potential losses associated with a calving operation. Combined with high feed efficiency that reduces feeding costs and excellent muscle-to-bone and muscle-to-fat ratios, the breed consistently produces a high meat yield with few associated problems.

    History

    • Prehistoric cave drawings in France show cattle quite similar to modern Limousin. These cattle originated in central France where they lived in rugged terrain and endured extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. The conditions created a hearty, adaptable breed. The breed was first imported to North America in the early 1900s.