Australian Lowline

The Australian Lowline is a modern breed of small, polled beef cattle from Australia. It originated from a selective breeding experiment with black Aberdeen Angus cattle at the New South Wales Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Centre in Trangie. While it ranks among the smallest cattle breeds, it is not a dwarf breed.

History

In 1929, the New South Wales Department of Agriculture established an Aberdeen Angus herd at Trangie using cattle imported from Canada. Over time, additional stock came from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Australian herds, until the herd-book was closed in 1964. Around that time, various research projects began at Trangie. In 1974, a study started to examine the link between growth rate and profitability, and whether larger or smaller grass-fed animals had better feed conversion efficiency.

For the study, three separate herds were created: one with high first-year growth (High Line), one with low growth (Low Line), and a randomly selected control group. The Low Line herd began with 85 cows and some young bulls, was closed to new stock from 1974, and eventually grew to over 400 head. To rule out climate effects, some animals were also raised in Glen Innes, New South Wales, and Hamilton, Victoria. The experiment lasted nineteen years, by which time the Low Line animals were about 30% smaller on average than the High Line group.

When the experiment ended in the early 1990s, the Lowline stock was sold at auction. The Australian Lowline Cattle Association formed in 1992, and the first herd-book, listing 150 cows and 36 bulls, was published in 1993. Australia is the only country that reports Lowline cattle to DAD-IS, though the association has members in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Characteristics

The Australian Lowline is among the smallest cattle breeds but lacks dwarfism. Its height is about 60% that of normal Aberdeen Angus cattle. Calves average a certain weight at birth but can be lighter. The coat is usually solid black or solid red, with some white on the scrotum or udder tolerated.

The cattle are naturally polled, have a calm temperament, and adapt well to different climates. Cows calve easily and produce ample milk for their calves. Compared to larger cattle, Lowlines cause less damage to pasture and require lower, less sturdy fencing.

Use

The breed is raised for beef. Its meat is tender, and the killing-out percentage is high.