The North American Limousin Research Foundation (NALRF) was established in 2021 as a division of the North American Limousin Educational Corporation, a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization to support research efforts focused on genetic progress and breed improvement. Funding for research efforts will be generated through member contributions, investments from the North American Limousin Foundation, grants and other fundraising activities specifically targeted towards research and breed improvement projects designed to advance the Limousin Breed.
NALRF was developed to support science-based research projects focused on documenting the advantages Limousin and Lim-Flex® cattle bring to the commercial cattle industry and identifying opportunities for genetic improvement. It is the intent of NALF to sponsor and/or collaborate in research conducted by universities, private firms, industry organizations/associations as well as ranches, feedlots and packers. The resulting data will be used to guide breed improvement efforts and inform breed marketing and communication strategies. Contact NALF for more information on supporting these efforts through a tax-deductible contribution.
The mission of the North American Limousin Research Foundation (NALRF) is as follows:
To serve the beef industry through targeted science-based research efforts
designed to advance, improve, and promote the Limousin breed.
Guiding Principles of the NALRF
The guiding principles that will govern NALRF include the following:
Governance
Research efforts will be guided by the Visions committee which will be responsible for making recommendations to the full NALF board for final approval. This committee will be responsible for identifying research priorities and objectives, sourcing potential research cooperators, developing research budgets and organizing research fundraising events and activities.
Diamond – Donations or commitments of $10,000 or more.
Platinum—$5,000 – $9,999
Gold ——–$2,500 – $4,999
Silver——–$500-$2,499
Bronze —–$250-499
Indirect Cost Policy: In view of its status as a non-profit institution and its desire to maximize the direct impact from its research funding dollars, it is the official policy of the North American Limousin Foundation and its entities not to pay facility, administrative or other indirect and overhead costs for research projects funded by the Association and its 501(c)3 not-for-profit entity North American Limousin Educational Foundation.
Phase one of NALRF Research project is now complete. 453 head of commercial Angus cows were bred on two separate ranches in Montana in early June via the 7&7 synchronization process. The commercial cows were artificially inseminated to 3 different contemporary groups of 9 sires consisting of Purebred Limousin, Lim-Flex®, and Angus bulls of similar EPD equivalency. Progeny of the matings will be shipped to South Dakota State University in the fall of 2023 for independent 3rd party research. The NALF board hopes to document the effects of heterosis and its impact on feed efficiency for feed conversion rates monitoring dry matter intake and A.D.G. on an individual basis. Additionally, individual carcass data will be captured that can be traced back to the 9 sires within the 3 different contemporary groups of bulls. Harvest dates will be scheduled to three different ship dates to also measure the effects of maintaining feed efficiency and its impact on carcass trait profitability in today’s era of larger outweights on fed cattle. NALF will keep you posted as the research progresses.
Read more about the behind the scenes of the project here.
Jerry Wulf • Warren Symens