Technical


Star Rating

A Star rating for quality and disposition (docility) can be used in assessing individual animal's characteristics. This system has been utilised to enable the breeder to describe an animal to a prospective purchaser.

Before rating, all cattle should have first met the strict criteria based on their type/ breed character, disposition/docility and structural soundness. Animals that have not met the standard of this initial assessment should be culled immediately

The Star Rating is from (5 Stars) to (1 Star) with 5 being the best. To help distinguish smaller differences between animals, and add continuity to the scoring system, the five scores can be further extended by adding plus and minus to each score ().

The information contained is supplied as a guide only for the individual breeder to assess and describe their cattle as mentioned above.


Docility

Very quiet - easy to handle – no trouble at all.
Quiet - but could be a bit restless when handled for the first time.
Manageable - but a bit restless, special towards unfamiliar situations.
Nervous - not happy when handled – should be culled.
Aggressive - only occasionally appears in the breed – should be culled.



Quality

and Normally not rated good enough for breeding.
- Good - For an animal to be rated good it must have a reasonable growth for age and also display good balance throughout.
- Very Good - For an animal to be rated very good it must have an even better weight for age. Display excellent conformation and be extremely balanced throughout.
- Exceptional - The rarest and most distinguished rating is for animals that in our opinion exhibit outstanding qualities of the breed. The best of the best!



Type / Maturity Rating

The origin of the Limousin breed in France uses 3 key type descriptions to define their cattle. These descriptions are linked to the maturity pattern of the animal and have been included in the catalogue to assist prospective purchasers:
  • Early (boucherie) - an early maturing heavily muscle type, particularly suited to vealer production. Cattle grow fast up to 450kg at 10-12 months and then taper off to a mature weight of around 1000kg for bulls and 650kg for females. A to A+ muscle scoring.
  • Mixed (Mix) - the middle / general purpose type cattle are described as mixed; they are early maturing, which continue to grow on. Mature finished weight will be around 1200kg for bulls and 800kg for females. A to A+ muscle scoring.
  • Late (elevage) - The later maturing / elevage Limousin type is primarily used to put size into females. These cattle are not primarily used for direct beef production but selectively used to maintain size in the herd. Mature finished weight will be exceeding 1200kg for bulls and 800kg for females. A to B muscle scoring.



Additional Reading

Muscle Scoring

Bull Soundness - Structural