With 400 animals from 26 departments, the Limousin national competition 2026 will have fully achieved its ambitions as a high-level competition, a showcase for genetics, and a meeting place for the entire sector.
Olivier Lasternas, a farmer in Dordogne and president of France Limousin Sélection and the Limousin herd book, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the exhibiting breeders, who amazed the judges and the breed staff by presenting animals “of an exceptional level of preparation, despite very difficult and costly conditions, with drought and prices that are not up to expectations.”The story between Limousine cattle and the Sommet de l’Élevage is nothing new. In 2004, La Limousine was the first to hold its national competition as part of the Sommet de l’élevage.
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Six judges officiated over the two days of competition: Rikke Benoit (Indre), Sébastien Besse (Corrèze), Pierre Dulac (Haute-Garonne), Alexandre Humeau (Vienne), Christian Laloi (Charente), and Marc Marty (Ariège). “The clarity of their explanations and the quality of their communication were unanimously praised.”Olivier Lasternas appreciates this, seeing it as the success of the training courses organized every year for judges.
The animals featured in this competition are rather mixed-type, with a balance between skeletal and muscular development, fineness and excellent functionality. The Limousine breed’s versatility was also highlighted, with butcher classes well supplied with entrants. “The direction taken around fifteen years ago to control the animals’ increasing weight is paying off. The Limousine retains its maternal qualities, fine bone and ability to calve easily.” is led by Olivier Lasternas.
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The president of the Limousine breed association also notes that while breeders accustomed to top rankings won awards this year, other farms that began breeding only about fifteen years ago are also making their mark, such as the Desassure farm. “By trusting our tools, it is possible to reach the highest level.”
The breed continues to thrive, with numbers in France holding between 1 and 1,2 million breeding females and nearly 2000 Limousin breeding bulls sold abroad each year. The “Grand Cru” auction at the Sommet de l’élevage 2026 ended with an average sale price of around 13 000 euros for sixteen animals, or 5000 euros more than last year.
See you at the 2027 edition of the national Limousin competition, in the heart of the breed’s birthplace, in Arnac-Pompadour, Corrèze.
Results of the 2026 national Limousin competition
- 1st prize in the male young prospect challenge: Acajou from Gaec Desassure
- 1st prize in the female young prospect challenge: Vénus from Gaec Camus père et fils
- Young female prize of honor: Valvina from Gaec Camus père et fils
- Adult female prize of honor: Salamandre with calf Beauté from Gaec Desassure
- Honorary prize, adult males: Trident from Gaec Camus Père et fils
- 1st prize for the best qualified breeder at Lanaud: Tropical RJ belonging to Philippe Deshoulières
- 1st overall prize: Gaec Camus père et fils
- 1st prize for the best RR-qualified breeder female: Nuttella from Gaec Migot Camille et François
- 1st prize for the best RRE-qualified female: Pocahontas from Gaec Bourdarias
- Prize for the best breeder qualified by progeny: Sauveur RR VS from Gaec Dublanc and Gaec Thibaud
- 1st prize in the female AI challenge: Salamandre from gaec Desassure
- 1st prize in the AI challenge: Util TD from gaec Peyrot Françoise Michel Bap.
- 1st prize for best young female for meat quality: Valentine of Gaec Lebourg
- 1st prize for best young male for meat quality: Valdes of Gaec Migot Camille et François
- 1st prize for best adult female for meat quality: Tia of Gaec Camus Olivier et Simon
- 1st prize for best adult male for meat quality: Soleil of Gaec Sagne-Lescure