Lim-Flex Limousin X Angus Hybrid

 

Whether you’re a new Limousin breeder or consider

yourself a veteran, NALF’s enhanced registry services

for Lim-Flex hybrids expand the range of crossbreeding

solutions you can now offer commercial customers.

With Lim-Flex hybrids, there are genetic

options to fit every need, from fullblood and purebred

Limousin for a “full-shot” of muscle and efficiency, to

Lim-Flex hybrids for a “blended-shot” of Limousin

with added marbling and maternal from Angus (black

or red). With Lim-Flex, breeders can offer a just-right

shot of Limousin to meet the needs of most any crossbreeding

program.

Lim-Flex stands for Limousin with muscle and

efficiency, along with flexibility — the most significant

strength of this powerful genetic blend:

Flexible seedstock for simple, easily managed

crossbreeding

Flexible market progeny that consistently hit

dressing percent, along with yield and quality

grade targets for mainstream, case-ready markets

Flexible females adapted for efficiency across a

wide range of environments

FLEX stands for Limousin Efficiency Cross

(X) — the beef industry’s answer to profitable

system-wide production of case ready products

NALF’s UltraMate Xbreeding System outlines

how to use registered Limousin and Lim-Flex seedstock

on different types of commercial cows to hit

end-product and maternal targets. This breeder’s

guide to Lim-Flex focuses on how to record necessary

pedigree and breed composition data required for registry,

as well as other policies for Lim-Flex animals.

Recording Lim-Flex —

It all starts with the cow

Lim-Flex may be produced from either registered

or unregistered cows with known and documented

breed composition (Limousin, Angus or Red Angus)

and pedigree (sire) information recorded with NALF.

Using registered Limousin cows

to produce Lim-Flex

Recording Lim-Flex calves from registered

Limousin cows is similar to reporting straight-bred

Limousin using the blue multiple application forms.

The only exception: when recording the sire’s registration

number, the proper registration prefix must

accompany the registration numbers for Angus and

Red Angus sires. NALF registration prefixes for Angus

and Red Angus animals are AAA and RAA, respectively.

For example, when recording a calf from an Angus

sire with the registration number 12345678, the sire’s

registration number should be reported as AAA-

12345678.

Many Angus and Red Angus A.I. sires already

have their pedigree information recorded in the NALF

herdbook. If registry applications are submitted for

animals out of sires that are not recorded, NALF staff

can obtain the necessary information from the Angus

and Red Angus associations. To expedite processing

for such animals, breeders are requested to submit

copies of registration certificates for Angus and Red

Angus sires previously unrecorded at NALF.

1

A Breeder’s Guide to

Lim-Flex Breed Composition and Pedigree Specifications

1. Animals registered as Lim-Flex must be 25 to 75 percent Limousin and 25 to 75 percent Angus or

Red Angus, with a maximum allowance of another breed or unknown breed composition of 12.5

percent (1/8th).

Note: Percent Limousin blood is computed using the same NALF calculation and rounding procedures as are used for other

categories of registered Limousin. NALF percent Limousin blood of registered Lim-Flex animals is printed on registration certificates

and performance records. Breed composition requirements for Lim-Flex animals can originate from parents of any percent blood

that meet the sire and dam specifications listed below.

2. Sires of registered Lim-Flex animals must be registered with NALF or the sire’s respective breed

association and have documented pedigree information for parents.

3. Dams of registered Lim-Flex animals must be documented as from a registered sire included in

either the NALF herd book or that of another breed association and have actual percent blood

information recorded.

Using registered Angus or Red

Angus cows to produce Lim-Flex

As long as registered Angus and Red Angus cows

have been entered into the NALF herd book, recording

Lim-Flex offspring is virtually the same as reporting

straight-bred Limousin information using the blue

multiple application form. Again, the exception is

that for breeds other than Limousin, the proper registration

prefix (i.e., AAA or RAA) must appear along

with the dam’s registration number on the application

form.

Registered Angus and Red Angus cows not yet on

the NALF herdbook may be recorded by submitting

copies of their registration certificates to the NALF

office. The cost of entering these animals is $5 per

head. For fastest turn-around time for Lim-Flex data

processing, breeders should submit required information

on registered Angus and Red Angus dams prior to

recording Lim-Flex offspring.

Using unregistered, non-Limousin

cows to produce Lim-Flex

Lim-Flex seedstock may be produced from unregistered

Angus or Red Angus cows as long as breed composition,

age and sire information is documented with

NALF. By necessity, this information must be recorded

prior to processing Lim-Flex progeny information.

The Unrecorded Cow Reporting Form (found

on page 4) should be used for submission of required

information on unrecorded cows. These cows must

be individually identified and tattooed with a unique

herd prefix, tattoo number and birth year letter code.

Breed composition must be documented to the nearest

12.5 percent (1/8th) using NALF’s eight-digit

breed codes (included on the bottom of the form).

The first four digits of the breed code represent the

breed composition of the cow’s sire, while the second

four digits are for the breed makeup of the cow’s dam.

An “X” breed code should be used for unknown breed

composition.

Additionally, sires of unregistered cows must be

documented in the NALF herd book in order for offspring

to be eligible for Lim-Flex registry. The sire’s

registration prefix (e.g., AAA or RAA) and number

should be included on the Unrecorded Cow

Reporting Form, and for most efficient processing, a

copy of the sire’s registration certificate should be provided

if the sire is not yet recorded with NALF.

What about producing Lim-Flex

from unregistered Limousin cows?

Technically, there are two different types of

unregistered Limousin cows that exist on the NALF

herdbook. The most common type, with a URF registration

prefix, have their own complete pedigree and

performance recorded. NALF requires that unregistered

Limousin females with the URF prefix be registered

in order for offspring to be eligible for the Lim-

Flex registry. Depending upon the specific percent

Limousin blood, once registered these cows may also

produce registered purebred or percentage offspring

(NPF or NXF).

Less common are unregistered cows with the UXF

prefix that are processed from the Unrecorded Cow

Reporting Form. Cows with the UXF prefix do not

have any of their own performance data recorded, only

basic birth date, percent blood and sire information.

Females with the UXF prefix are only eligible to have

progeny recorded as Lim-Flex. Such females not currently

on file with NALF may be recorded for $5 per

head by using the Unrecorded Cow Reporting Form.

Lim-Flex registration fees

Registration fees for Lim-Flex animals are the

same as for other Limousin cattle. The only exception

is that until June 1, 2003, Lim-Flex animals born prior

to 2003 and 151 days of age or older, may be registered

at the 91-150 day rate of $14 per head. For $5

per animal, NALF members may change the status of

qualified, registered percentage Limousin animals

(NXF or NXM) to Lim-Flex, as long as the animal has

no recorded progeny and the existing registration certificate

accompanies the request. In order to make

offspring of foundation cows eligible for the Lim-Flex

designation, cows with an FC# prefix may be recorded

(with required identification, birth date and sire information)

for $5 per head.

Registration prefixes and names

for Lim-Flex animals

Registration prefixes for Lim-Flex animals are LFF

(females) and LFM (males). Policies for names

assigned by members to specific Lim-Flex animals are

the same as those for other registered Limousin—

assigned by breeders and not to exceed 25 spaces.

The name Lim-Flex, followed by the percent

Limousin (e.g., Lim-Flex 50) appear on NALF registration

certificates and performance records in the same

location where Fullblood and Purebred are designated

for other registered Limousin. The Lim-Flex name

and percent Limousin are also included on sale downloads,

and members are strongly encouraged to

include this information in sale catalogs and promotional

materials. Percent Limousin blood information

on individual animals is critical for helping commercial

cattlemen manage crossbreeding programs.

DNA/blood typing requirements

for Lim-Flex hybrid seedstock

The typing and parentage verification requirements

for animals vary between Limousin, Angus and

Red Angus, according to the rules established by each

association. In general, requirements for Lim-Flex

animals are the same as for Limousin animals, except

that Angus and Red Angus parents are subject to the

policies of their respective breed associations. 2

A

Breeder’s

Guide to

Lim-Flex

Donor dams

Limousin and hybrid Lim-Flex donors are subject

to identical requirements as those used to produce registered

Limousin cattle (identification blood or DNA

type on file and sire verified if born after July 1, 1987).

For Angus and Red Angus donors, NALF recognizes

and records the identification blood/DNA types

through either NALF’s official laboratory or that of

Angus or Red Angus, and imposes the same typing

requirements as these respective breed associations

(identification blood/DNA type on file, with no

parentage verification requirement).

Lim-Flex ET calves

Requirements are identical to those for Limousin

ET calves (parent verification via DNA or blood

depending upon birth date, to both sire and dam in

order to be eligible for registration). Lim-Flex ET calves

must be typed by NALF’s official laboratory, while

Angus or Red Angus parents may be typed (blood or

DNA) by the official laboratory of their respective associations,

provided the type is on file in the NALF office

and is satisfactory for parentage verification.

A.I. sires of Lim-Flex progeny

For sires used via artificial insemination (A.I.),

typing requirements are identical to those of the

respective breed of A.I. sire. For Limousin and Lim-Flex

bulls used via A.I., a DNA or blood identification type

and parentage verification to both sire and dam is

required (see specific rules for animals born in different

birth years) for offspring to be eligible for registry.

Due to practical considerations regarding the

potential number of non-Limousin A.I. sires used to

produce Lim-Flex progeny, it is sensible to honor the

requirements of the respective breed of A.I. sire. Thus,

for Angus and Red Angus A.I. sires, typing requirements

are identical to those of their respective breeds

and include an identification blood/DNA type on file.

Random DNA typing

Lim-Flex and other registered hybrids are randomly

DNA typed and parent verified at the same rate

and using identical procedures as other Limousin cattle

entering the NALF herd book. NALF pays for all

random DNA typing.

Performance only

Hybrid Limousin animals and non-Limousin

animals may be submitted and processed by the NALF

office for performance calculation only for a fee of

$2.50 per animal, with no EPDs provided on non-registered

animals.

Hybrid Limousin animals that do

not qualify for Lim-Flex

Animals that are at least 25 percent Limousin as

computed by NALF and comply with the specifications

for sires but not with other requirements for Lim-Flex,

are eligible for registry and issued “Hybrid Registration

Certificates”. Recordation and/or registry of such

“foundation” animals is encouraged, since offspring of

these animals may qualify as Lim-Flex. Only registered

animals have EPDs printed on NALF papers.

Breeding superior Lim-Flex

animals

In order to build the best Lim-Flex animals, superior

Limousin and superior Angus (red or black)

genetic inputs should be identified using EPDs and

common sense, and blended in a complementary way

according to selection objectives determined by endproduct

and maternal targets. Since the whole purpose

of hybrid seedstock is to easily manage heterosis

and deliver genetics that overcome within breed

antagonisms among traits, careful selection of genetics

from each breed is essential.

In general, Angus are enhanced by the muscle,

growth, efficiency, and percent retail product advantages

of Limousin. Conversely, the early puberty, marbling

and fleshing ability of Angus generally complement

Limousin cattle. Both breeds are fundamentally

strong in calving ease, survival, growth rate, traits

associated with convenience and have moderate levels

of milk and mature size.

By design, most Lim-Flex seedstock are primarily

suited to produce offspring for mainstream target

markets calling for an optimum combination of muscle

and marbling. Because the range in percent blood

for Limousin and Angus may vary from 25 percent to

75 percent, the most versatile Lim-Flex seedstock will

likely result from blending Limousin and Angus pedigrees

that represent superior combinations of genetics

for traits associated with feedyard performance, carcass

merit and optimum maternal performance. For

specialized maternal situations, it makes sense to

build Lim-Flex animals from Limousin and Angus

parents that are above each breed'  s average for scrotal

circumference, have reputations for calm docility, possess

adequate fleshing ability and are within optimum

ranges for sensible levels of milk and mature size.

The professional, savvy breeder of Lim-Flex animals

will combine truly superior and proven genetics

from both the Limousin and Angus (red or black)

breeds according to targeted performance objectives.

EPD profiles and associated percentile rankings of

both the Limousin and Angus inputs should be

matched, so as to complement potential areas of

weakness and stack pedigrees for desired strengths in

resulting offspring. Breeders of Lim-Flex animals should also use accuracy values that accompany EPDs from each breed to manage risk associated

with selection. Finally, multi-breed genetic predictions that account for the genetic merit of  Angus and Red Angus parents of Lim-Flex animals should arm breeders with information to produce reliable hybrid genetic inputs.