Australian Lowline
Small, polled beef cattle from a New South Wales breeding experiment.
The Australian Lowline is a modern Australian breed of small, polled beef cattle, developed from a selective breeding experiment using black Aberdeen Angus cattle at the Agricultural Research Centre of the Department of Agriculture of New South Wales at Trangie. It is among the smallest breeds of cattle, but is not a dwarf breed.
- origin
- Australia
- breed type
- beef cattle
- size
- among the smallest cattle breeds; height about 60% of normal Aberdeen Angus
- coat
- usually solid black, may be solid red; some white on scrotum or udder tolerated
- horns
- naturally polled
- temperament
- quiet-tempered
- birth weight
- average 22 kg, may be as low as 14 kg
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In 1929 the Department of Agriculture of New South Wales started an Aberdeen Angus herd at the Agricultural Research Centre at Trangie with stock imported from Canada. Various additions were made from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Australian herds until the herd-book was closed in 1964. In 1974 an investigation began of the correlation between growth rate and profitability, and of whether feed conversion efficiency was higher in large or small animals fed on grass. Three separate herds were established: a High Line (high growth), a Low Line (low growth), and a Control Line (randomly selected). The Low Line herd started with 85 cows and some young bulls, was closed to additions from 1974, and eventually numbered more than 400 head. Some stock was reared at Glen Innes in northern New South Wales and at Hamilton, Victoria, to exclude possible effects of climate from the study. The experiment ran for nineteen years; by its end, Low Line animals were on average some 30% smaller than the High Line group.
Reader's Guide
When the experiment ended in the early 1990s, the Lowline stock was auctioned off. A breeders' association, the Australian Lowline Cattle Association, was formed in 1992, and the first herd-book was published in 1993, listing 150 cows and 36 bulls. Australia is the only country which reports Lowline cattle to DAD-IS; the breeders' association has members in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The breed is reared for beef; the meat is tender and the killing-out percentage is high. Compared to larger cattle, the Lowline does less damage to pasture land and does not need such high or strong fencing. The cattle are naturally polled and are quiet-tempered. They adapt well to varying climatic conditions. Cows calve easily and provide plenty of milk to their young.
Did You Know?
- The Australian Lowline was developed from a selective breeding experiment that ran for nineteen years at the Agricultural Research Centre at Trangie, New South Wales.
- By the end of the experiment, Low Line animals were on average some 30% smaller than the High Line group.
- The Low Line herd started with 85 cows and some young bulls, and was closed to additions from 1974, eventually numbering more than 400 head.
- The first herd-book, published in 1993, listed 150 cows and 36 bulls.
- Australia is the only country which reports Lowline cattle to DAD-IS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Australian Lowline?
Australian Lowline is a small, naturally polled beef cattle breed that originated in Australia. It was developed through a selective breeding program using black Aberdeen Angus at a government research station in New South Wales.
What are Australian Lowline's powers/role?
Australian Lowline serves as a compact beef producer, standing at roughly 60 percent the height of a standard Aberdeen Angus. They are known for a calm disposition and a coat that is typically solid black, though solid red individuals also occur.
How does Australian Lowline's story end?
The breed remains an active, modern cattle type rather than a historical curiosity, continuing to be raised for its beef output. It is classified as one of the smallest cattle breeds in the world, though it is explicitly not considered a dwarf type.
Why is Australian Lowline important?
Australian Lowline demonstrates that targeted selective breeding can produce a functional, quiet-tempered beef animal at a significantly reduced size without resorting to dwarf genetics. It stands out as a practical example of Australian agricultural innovation in cattle development.
Where does Australian Lowline come from?
The breed traces its origins to a Department of Agriculture research program at the Trangie Agricultural Research Centre in New South Wales, Australia. It was derived specifically from black Aberdeen Angus stock selected over generations for smaller frame size.
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