Climate adaptation program for Limousin cattle

A three-year program called Adaptation des Bovins Limousins au Changement Climatique (ABLi2C), funded by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is investigating strategies to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change on the Limousin cattle breed. The program, conducted by the Herd-Book Limousin and Ingenomix, has been ongoing since 2024 and focuses on studying various phenotypes of Limousin cattle to identify lineages that are least costly and most productive, thereby enhancing efficiency.

Focus on cattle traits

Variables under study include the heritability of live weight, skin and coat thickness, and feeding behavior. Researchers are examining how these traits might influence the cattle's ability to cope with rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions.

Initial findings on productivity

Initial findings suggest that lighter animals with good weaning productivity contribute to better live meat productivity and improved margins. The program has also examined the impact of thermal stress on ingestion and rumination, which are key factors in cattle health and efficiency.

Use of technology to monitor behavior

Accelerometer collars, which record data every five minutes on the position of the animal, rumination, and other behaviors, have been placed on calves. After seven recording campaigns, a confirmed link was found between calf behavior and thermal stress.

Thermal stress effects identified

When the temperature-humidity index (THI) is high, ingestion time decreases while rumination time and time spent at water increase. Further research is needed to understand the impact of thermal stress on each activity of the animal and to estimate their resilience, defined as the time period required for a disturbed animal to return to a normal state.