2023 Limousin Annual Journal

FEATURE
Average 200 days weight is 240kgs
with a range of 117kgs - 352 kgs
equalling a 66% variation in weights.
On average calves 200 day weight
represents 25% of cows weight.
Best 34% lowest 13%. (Figures lower
owing to 20% of calves from heifers.)
A sustainable world
As part of his mantra that the
customer is king, Brian also
recognises the importance of
sustainable farming and its
increasing importance in many
purchasing decisions made by
retailers and consumers. He farms
934 hectares of which 270 hectares
are in grass and believes the livestock
are essential to the running of his
arable enterprise. I support this view
and suspect we will increasingly
see more arable farmers consider
livestock as a means to address
declining soil health in Britain.
I was also excited to see Brian’s
thinking in the circular economy of
his farm. He shared with me that
McDonald’s partners with Olleco, a
renewable energy supplier which
recycles food waste into digestate.
Brian uses this digestate as fertiliser
on farm growing the grass that feeds
the cows who will produce the next
wave of beef burgers for companies
like McDonald’s. I love this way of
thinking. It is essential that circular
economies become part of a way
of life, not just in farming, but for all
businesses if we are to reduce the
significant amounts of waste we
produce as a society.
Looking ahead
With ever increasing on farm costs
and challenging margins I fully
expect to meet members who
are having a tough time making
ends meet. I believe we will find
opportunities across our society
where we can better help and
support each other in our ambitions.
I was therefore encouraged to hear
Brian speak about the significant
46 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY www.limousin.co.uk