The Martin family operated a dairy farm at Staghorn Flat via Wodonga, Victoria for 40 years, and concluded dairying in 1975 upon the acquisition of their property by the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation(AWDC), a body established by the Whitlam Government.
At this point in time, the Dairy Industry went through a brief major down-turn, and the Martin family converted to operating a beef herd involving Dairy Beef Crossbred Cows and purchased their first Limousin bulls for vealer production from Mr Stuart Henderson of ‘Manor Hill Limousin Stud’ at Wangaratta, Victoria.
The Le Martres Limousin Stud was founded in 1988 with the purchase of its first females from the ‘Manor Hill Limousin Stud’.At this time, the stud was operated in conjunction with the ‘Bunding Park Limousin Stud’ owned by Mr Bert & Mrs Ruth Bowden, located at Ballan, Victoria.
Then in 1994, the Martin family purchased the property named ‘Rosemont Farm’ located at Table Top, NSW, and the Le Martres Limousin Stud was relocated to Table Top, NSW.
The stud then acquired an additional selection of older Apricot and Black Limousin cows and bulls to expand the herd size. Older cattle were selected as proven breeders and as having been proven to be structurally correct by ‘time’.
Le Martres Poll Limousin now breed French & Australian Purebred Limousin cattle with exceptional quality carcases, various coat colors (apricot, black, blue & strawberry) and polled, including ‘French Pure Polled’.
All cattle are selected for good manners and natural performance and muscling off grass.
The cow herd is annually indexed for high milking ability – Limousin cows make excellent mothers.
Limousin cows also continue to breed up to 10, 15 & 20 years, and, in the case of bulls up to 10 years. Le Martres has specifically selected Limousin cattle that have outstanding longevity as this is a very important trait for maximising on-farm resource efficiency and optimising profitability.
The stud selection program uses ‘Natural Ecosystems Group’ (NEG). This service utilises objective measurement – weighing, live scanning and indexing technology to identify ‘meat yield and quality’ and ‘variable fat content’ of livestock. This provides a ‘Carcase Merit Index’ (CMI) enabling the ranking of individual stock and identification of superior stock.
The benefits are;
- Higher carcase yields (> 60% dressing percentage)
- Better balanced carcases, ie. meat/fat/bone ratio
- Greater carcase uniformity across progeny>/li>
- Higher ‘Carcase Merit Index’ post weaning for superior performance
- (NEG; CMI > 2000 @ 12 months, or NEG; CMI/mth > 166.67)
- Satisfactory fat cover (>3 mm & < 10 mm) for softness and ease of finishing
- Higher marbling (>2.0% IMF) for tenderness
Young herd sires are selected on the basis of;
- Born early and relatively small (ensuring shorter gestation and small birth size)
- High ‘Carcase Merit Index’ post weaning
- Bred from superior milk performance dams
- Structurally correct
- Carrying large testicles well suspended away from the body
As testimony to the stud’s selection program, in 2007, a line of Limousin heifers killed through the Cardinia VIC Meat Works averaged greater than 63% dressing percentage, with the top beast dressing out at an unbelievable 67%.
In addition, Le Martres produces lines of Limousin Angus cross heifers and steers that regularly kill out over 58%, and as high as 60% Dressed Weight.
Arrange an appointment today to select our stock and improve your bottom line!