The British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS), the UK’s largest beef breed Society, will take on the responsibility for data collection and the provision of performance recording services to pedigree Limousin breeders from 1st April 2013. This major announcement has been made in a joint statement from the present service providers Signet Breeding Services, along with the BLCS.
Since the arrival of Limousin cattle to the UK, MLC/Signet Breeding Services have worked closely with the BLCS to deliver a performance recording service to Limousin breeders. This relationship was strengthened in 2005, when the two organisations began using the shared BASCO Data Ltd livestock database. Signet’s Beefbreeder service has been successful in that time and has seen a high level of participation in weight recording services with over 40% of pedigree Limousin cattle now recorded.
From April 2013 the BLCS will now be taking on the responsibility for the provision of these services in what has been described as a new approach to performance recording Limousin cattle. Commenting, Signet Manager Sam Boon said: “British Limousin has grown into a large and successful breed and we have been delighted to play a part in that development with the provision of performance recording services. Following discussions we can see a new and tailored approach through the BLCS to further develop the delivery of the services and to build on the recording base that has been established. Between now and April 2013, and indeed beyond, we will work closely with the BLCS to fully facilitate this move.”
Both Signet and BLCS are presently writing to all Limousin recording members to outline this agreement and to reassure that the provision of recording services will be ongoing with as seamless a transition as is possible in April next year.
Speaking on behalf of the BLCS, Society Chief Executive Iain Kerr said, “This is another big step forward for the BLCS and we are delighted to have reached this agreement with Signet. The Society is committed to providing performance recording services that pedigree and commercial producers can use to drive breed improvement and to market their herds. Through the structure of the BASCO livestock database we are aiming to provide a leading-edge service that is paperless and built around web-based data capture.”
“This new approach will, we anticipate, allow the service to be provided at a lower cost for both large and small herds and will quickly encourage a further and significant uptake in the number of Limousin herd’s performance recording.”
As at present SAC Egenes, who are based at the New Roslin Institute outside Edinburgh, will continue to provide the data analysis and genetic evaluations for the Limousin breed.
Beyond April next year Signet Breeding Services will continue to provide performance recording services to over 800 clients encompassing over 40 breeds of sheep and cattle; as well as supporting the EBLEX Better Returns Programme.
The joint announcement from the BLCS and Signet has been made in the run up to the forthcoming Autumn Bull Sales where representatives from both organisations will be available to discuss the new performance recording service provision with Limousin breeders.
this is a good move.I think it will encorage more breeders to become involved and may mean more frequent recordings all of which will enhance the accuracy and respect of the figures.
It is important to remember that cattle breeding has been based on the stockman’s eye for generations, especially in a commercial market situation. It is important that as a breed you don’t solely follow figures instead of the proven stockman approach. The commercial buyers around the fat rings can already forecast the weight, grade, and kill out etc, so we must ensure we don’t loss track of visual assessment and put all are emphasis on figures which have provided to be detrimential to other livestock species in the past.
Figures are a flawed concept as to many people cheat the system, more has got to be done about people who fake ages.