Development of the Lowline Cattle Breed

Developed in Australia from an Angus herd at the Trangle Research Center with a goal of creating quality breeding stock for the New South Wales Cattle industry the work started in 1929 and continued until 1992.

The original foundation animals were from Canada, the United States, and Scotland. The animals were showed successfully at the Sidney Royal Show through the 1950's and received honors such as 4 champion bull and supreme championships in 1954 and 1955. The herd was closed to outside animals in 1964.

In 1963, the program at Trangie changed to emphasize research and in cooperation with the Australian Meat Research Committee established a project designed to establish the role of performance data acquisition in the breeding program. In addition emphasis was to be given to weight gain and conformation scores in the selection of replacement bulls and heifers. The project was continued until 1970 and was the first performance testing in Australia. This testing was successful in demonstrating the usefulness of measuring performance in the bull herd.

Between the years of 1971 and 1973 trials were conducted using objective measurement and apprasial by experienced stud breeders in the selection of replacement bulls and heifers. Two herds were created for comparison purposes between the performance testing and the assments by the experienced bull breeders evaluations with respect to growth potential.

The trials which produced the Lowline breed began in 1974. Funded by the Meat Research Corporation these trials were used to evaluate selection for growth rate as it effected herd profitability. The purpose of this work was to determine whether large or small animals were more efficient in converting grass to meat. These trials continued for 19 years.

The research staff chose two herds, one for high yearling growth rate and the second for low yearling growth rate. A third group was randomly selected as a control group. The herds were named Highline, Lowline and Control Line. In order to enable climate to be taken into account separate herds were established in Glenn Innes and at Hamilton. The work included evaluation of weight gain, feed consumption, reproduction traits, milk production, carcass yield and structural soundness. Protein conversion for both focus groups were the same.

The first dispersal of the Glenn Innes heard was held in 1992. 9 bulls, 23 heifers and 7 cows were sold to buyers. The 7 purchasers formed the Australian Lowline Cattle Association and adopted the Lowline name.

The balance of the Glenn Innes herd was dispersed in 1992. This sale included 20 bull, 51 heifers, and 44 cows. The American Lowline Registry was established in the late 1990's. Since that time the membership has grown rapidly and the cattle have been shown in fairs and stock shows around the country.Rod and Marilyn Hewitt
217 Darby Hill
Rockingham, Vermont 05101
Phone: 802-463-2205 Fax: 802-463-2205
Email: rod@dayspringfarm.com