From the Field
Looking in the Rearview; Spring 2018
By Nathan Smith, NALF regional manager
As I sit in the Greenville-
Spartangburg Airport today,
I start to look back on what
has been a whirlwind of my
first four and a half months
with Limousin. The spring sale
season is almost over with
just a few sales left before
attention goes from sales
to shows, so lets take a look
back at what the spring sale
market and my travels have
brought about this year.
Prices as a whole were
moderate to a bit lower this
year, which was to be expected
as the beef cow inventory line
from USDA started to flatten
rather than climb for the first
time since 2013. Couple this
trend with ongoing volatility in
the agricultural commodities
markets, I feel sales held
We have a full sister to RBHL Ellie as well as other top end
female show prospects sired by MAGS Y-Axis, MAGS Unite
Together, and MAGS Cable. All are eligible for the Texas
Limousin Associations Lone Star Shoot-Out.
Ralph & Belinda Hawkins Family
P.O. Box 749 • Krum, Texas 76249
Mobile: 940-367-4633
e-mail: [email protected]
Thank you to all that have purchased our genetics and
supported our program. We appreciate your business
and look forward to working with you again.
192 | JUNE/JULY 2018
together quite well with quality
continuing to sell at a premium.
No matter where, the “good
ones” always found a couple
extra bidders. Commercial
cattlemen comment that
they are filling their needs
for performance and muscle
with Limousin genetics, while
improving their bottom line
by adding pounds on sale day.
Other producers comment that
the Limousin females they can
use in their programs add years
to the average cow age, which
really affects the bottom line
long-term. Furthermore, I found
more and more commercial
cattlemen are beginning to
look at Limousin genetics as
the typical British female seems
to struggle with longevity and
are pleased with the other
benefits of having hybrid cattle.
Travels this spring have allowed
me to get out and meet a large
crosscut of membership and
get to know a few programs.
January and February brought
the NWSS, Ft. Worth and NCBA,
with production sales making
up the balance of my schedule.
These events established what I
had already been told by many
at Denver, that although not
a large group, the Limousin
breed and its people are some
of the highest quality and
tightest knit producers in the
industry. Trips to Kentucky,