British Limousin cattle and semen head to Holland in new export first
The leading Dutch Limousin company, Cowporation BV of Alblasserdam in Holland, has purchased a quantity of both British Limousin cattle and genetics in a new export first which followed a five-day tour to the UK by a group of six Dutch Limousin breeders.
Seven heifers were purchased at the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS) Breeders’ Sale held at Carlisle’s Borderway Market on Friday 17th February 2012. All maidens, they ranged in age from 8 to 20 months and were consigned by the Cloughhead, Saunders & Homebyres Herds respectively. In addition to the cattle bought at the sale, a further three heifers were bought privately from the Procters Herd, Slaidburn, Lancs, with a young bull and heifer also purchased from Messrs Jenkinson’s Whinfellpark prefix based at Penrith, Cumbria. These private purchases followed farm visits during the trip to a number of Limousin herds in the North West of England region.
The package of British Limousin genetics sold was further enhanced by an order of 150 straws of semen from the Limousin bulls Carmorn Copilot and Sympa respectively. The sale of both cattle and semen is thought to be the first time that UK Limousin genetics will be heading over the North Sea to the Netherlands.
Commenting, Mr Teus Dekker of Cowporation said: “We are establishing a nucleus of top British-bred Limousin genetics based on a foundation herd of 50 females and 10 bulls. These combine bloodlines such as Haltcliffe Vermount, Wilodge Cerberus and Carmorn Copilot which represent the British Limousin type with its extra muscling whilst still maintaining its easy calving characteristics.”
Cowporation eventually plans to market livestock, semen and embryos throughout Holland and Flemish-speaking Belgium. During the trip, representatives of Cowporation met with the BLCS for an exploratory meeting to discuss the work and service provision of the British Limousin Herdbook, the BASCO livestock database, and performance recording programmes.
This most recent export success comes hard on the heels of the first export sale to France of the British-bred Limousin bull, Grange Gervaise, in January this year. Also in January, semen from Carmorn Copilot was exported to France which represented the first semen sold, from a British-bred Limousin bull, back to the home country of the Limousin breed.
Commenting, Peter Kirton the BLCS Chairman said: “The interest of the Dutch breeders in British Limousin genetics is very welcome and is another significant step forward for the breed in the UK. There is a growing recognition of British Limousin genetics and the British Limousin ‘type’ around the world. UK-bred Limousins provide the complete package of growth, muscling, easy-calving and performance, and this is attractive to both domestic and international markets,” he said.
The Dutch breeders attended the record breaking Limousin sale held on Saturday February 18th at Carlisle which included the purchase of the Limousin bull Emslies Frenchman for 37,000gns by United States buyers John Downs and Jerry Turner of the Southern Cattle Company, Florida.
