Lowline Angus cattle have experienced phenomenal growth
since 1996 when the first Lowline was imported to the
United States from Australia…and with good reason.
Known for their large rib eye area and ability to produce
more product per pound along with a high rate of efficiency
as grass converters, they certainly pack a lot of benefits
in a smaller package...
History
of Lowline Cattle
Lowline Frequently
Asked Questions
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Thinking of Joining a Winning Breed?
Lowline Angus cattle have experienced phenomenal growth
since 1996 when the first Lowline was imported to the
United States from Australia…and with good reason.
Known for their large rib eye area and ability to produce
more product per pound along with a high rate of efficiency
as grass converters, they certainly pack a lot of benefits
in a smaller package.
Lowline cattle closely resemble their ancestors, the
Aberdeen Angus and are about 30% smaller than the full
sized Angus that you see today. Selectively bred from
pure Angus stock, Lowlines are not a dwarf breed. Instead
they were intentionally bred down in size as part of
a nineteen year study conducted by the Trangie Research
Center in Australia.
The animals selected for the study were originally
derived from the best Angus stock imported to the research
center beginning in 1929 for the purpose of developing
a high quality commercial export market. By the early
1960’s, the Trangie Research Center had accomplished
their goal with herds firmly established throughout
Australia and nearby regions, a strong Japanese export
market and champion placings at large livestock shows.
The additional research that ultimately produced the
Lowline breed began in 1974 and was conducted for 19
years within a closed herd selected from Trangie’s
large herd of Champion Angus cattle. The purpose of
the study was to determine whether larger or smaller
cattle were more efficient converters of grass to beef.
The closed herd was split into 3 groups, one called
Lowline.
The study concluded that the overall efficiency of
the cattle as grass converters was essentially the same
between larger and smaller animals…interesting
data when one considers the fact that Lowlines are shorter,
eat less and require less acreage.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, as with the rest of
the country, demand for Lowline cattle exceeds the supply.
The breed is appealing both to ranchers and those on
smaller acreage “ranchettes.” As farm land
is dwindling, higher stocking rates and more product
per pound are vital goals for the producer. And at the
other end of the spectrum, health conscious consumers
have created a market for more efficient cattle genetically
designed for the natural and grass raised beef market.
Lowlines are also an excellent choice for the family
enterprise. Because of their size and docile temperament,
the whole family can participate in the care and handling
of the cattle from birth to maturity.
As the numbers of Lowline cattle breeder memberships
increase nationally, many area breeders expressed interest
in joining together to help promote Lowlines on a local
level. In January 2007, the Northwest Lowline Association
(NWLA) was formed. NWLA hopes to meet the needs of area
breeders through educational events, a website, shows,
sales, cooperative marketing and networking. NWLA welcomes
Lowline breeders residing in Washington, Oregon and
Idaho with the requirement that members must have Lowlines
registered with the national organization, the American
Lowline Registry. NWLA also offers Junior memberships
for youth under 21 years of age.
If you would like more information about the NWLA or
Lowline cattle, please visit our website at www.nwlowline.com
or the American Lowline Registry at www.usa-lowline.org
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