Limousin society soothes nerves

Limousin breeders attending the bull sales in Stirling yesterday, had many questions on the consequences arising from one of the top rated bulls in the breed and its progeny having their pedigree registrations and their passports suspended.

But Iain Kerr, the chief executive of the British Limousin Cattle Society, said that nothing could be said or done until both Trading Standards and the British Cattle Movement Service had completed their investigation into the paperwork on the Perthshire farm of Ball in loan, where the bull, Ballinloan Jaeger bomb, was born. The investigation taking place is over doubts on its dam and its date of birth.

“We are doing everything we can to give clarity to our members as soon as possible but it is between the authorities and the breeder at this moment in time. I can assure members we will be assisting the authorities to come to a conclusion.”

Kerr did state that the society would be looking at how it could further tighten its already strict conditions to prevent anything similar happening in the future.

He was speaking against the background of Limousin bulls at the sale meeting what he described as a “ready demand with a high percentage clearance rate of 89 per cent with 41 out of an entry of 46 heading to new homes.”

Yesterday’s sale followed a similar successful sale in Carlisle on Saturday. “While there are concerns, the demand for Limousins is still there,” he added.