2023 Limousin Annual Journal

CEO's Message
HELLO,
It’s a real honour to be writing this as the CEO
of the British Limousin Society. Having joined in
November 2022 I’ve been very grateful to our
members, the Council and the wider industry
for the warm welcome.
As we’ve put together this Journal, it’s been
a wonderful opportunity to discover and
learn just how much took place in 2022. It
was an iconic year for the breed, as members
came together to celebrate the 50 th Golden
Anniversary (1971 – 2021) and reflect on
those who contributed so significantly to the
introduction of the breed and its popularity
since the first importation of the breed from
France (into Leith Docks, Edinburgh in 1971).
The National Herd competition with both
a Pedigree and Commercial section saw
members recognised for their significant
achievements. Congratulations to the winners
(the Mather family from Stratton Farms, Devon,
Patrick Greed of the Killerton Pedigree herd
and James McKay of Ampertaine Pedigree
Herd) who I look forward to visiting and seeing
first hand their accomplishments.
Thanks must go to Allan Jenkinson and
his Whinfell Park team for hosting the 50 th
Anniversary National Open Day. Having had
the pleasure of visiting recently, it is evident
the quality of cattle matches the quality of
the set up and truly serves as a flagship site to
promote the beauty of the breed. I left feeling
delighted that Allan chose to invest in Limousin
as his preferred breed having been influenced
by the legendary David Tomlinson, who rightly
features in our Hall of Fame, an initiative we
have former President Craig Ridley to thank for.
2022 was a record-breaking year for the breed
when Gerwyn Jones, Conwy, Graiggoch Rambo
flew through the bids and sold for 180,000gns.
Sales results throughout the year evidenced the
favourable demand for Limousin with averages
consistently exceeding 8,000gns and clearance
rates in the 90’s.
But as I was not present for most of the year,
perhaps you will humour me with a look
forward, rather than a look back.
When you tell people you are starting a new
job, I think its always interesting to see the
facial expressions that give away their true
feeling about your next step. When I told
people of my move to the Limousin Society I
was delighted the reaction was positive, but
also intrigued by the look of but…. that swept
across their faces. When probed, the look
of ‘but…’ came down to a question, has the
Limousin breed lost its way? Before joining, my
view was absolutely not, the cattle speak for
themselves by consistently topping the market.
But Limousin could be doing more to promote
itself. Now 5 months in role, that view remains
the same. Limousin Beef is a clear winner for
British farming, butchery and the consumer, we
just need to promote it’s value and purpose. A
job that is my absolute priority.
Having grown up on a farm, the world of
agriculture has been familiar to me. However,
as a young woman in the early years of her
career almost twenty years ago, stepping into
the commercial world of retail showed me how
little non-ag people knew or understood about
our world. Language that is second nature to
us, seemed almost foreign to the non-ag world.
Things we took for granted or were immensely
proud of were almost completely unknown.
Those feelings have emerged again in the last
five years as the topic of sustainable agriculture
has become a much talked about point across
commercial and social worlds. Everyone has
8 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY www.limousin.co.uk