ILC Feature
of 1976, memberships were at
an all-time high as 3,460 and
30,000 fullblood and percentage
Limousin cattle were entered
in the CLA herdbook. The
Canadian Limousin Association
office has remained in
Calgary, Alberta since the
inception of the Association.
The Canadian Limousin Bull Test
Center is one of many highlights
in the history of the Limousin
breed in Canada. Sales were
held at the completion of each
test from 1978 through 1997
and during that time, 895.5 bulls
would pass through the sale
ring to gross $2,815,050.05 CAD,
for a sale average of $3,144 CAD.
Limousin animals claimed many
championships in the show
steer ring and 4-H shows and
the CLA made efforts towards
encouraging youth to exhibit
Limousin cattle. The ladies’
auxiliary, the Limoselles, was
formed and from that group
came many unique promotional
and commemorative items. The
CLA prioritized promotion of the
breed through group efforts and
relied on Provincial Limousin
Associations to aid in this effort.
An excerpt from the book
Limousin Cattle In Canada…
A Success Story by Harald
Gunderson reads, “It was the
swing to grassroots promotion
that turned the CLA from
an association of individual
breeders to an association
of people sharing the belief
in one breed of cattle.”
This statement has carried
the Limousin breed through
to today, where it remains
the fifth largest beef breed
registry in Canada (behind
Angus, Simmental, Hereford
and Charolais, respectively).
The Association must credit
the breeders of the original
genetics, founding members,
presidents and directors,
association managers and
staff, all of the breeders and
commercial cattlemen, as well
as industry proponents, that
collectively have made the
breed what it is today in Canada.
Today, many countries look to
Canada as a provider of superior
Limousin genetics. Semen
and embryos, as well as live
cattle, have been exported to
numerous countries. Canadian
Limousin breeders are always
happy to host international
guests and welcome tours
of their operations. Canada
was tremendously proud
to host the World Congress
in 1982 in Calgary, Alberta
and the 2002 International
Limousin Congress, also in
Calgary, Alberta. A great
deal of connections have
been made through ILC.
As commercial cattlemen in
Canada seek largely to purchase
polled bulls, selection pressure
has been placed on selecting
for polled breeding stock. The
CLA herdbook is now made up
of nearly 95% polled animals.
Limousin won the Canadian
Western Agribiton carcass
competition for 26 consecutive
years. Today, the Canadian beef
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