Where did Lowline cattle come from? Lowlines were developed from a herd of 100% Registered Angus, which was established at the Trangie Research Cente in Australia in 1929 to provide quality beef breeding stock for the New South Wales industry. From that early beginning and after decades of selection to moderate frame size came this exciting beef breed we call Australian Lowlines.
Are Lowlines miniature cattle? No, Lowlines are true beef cattle in a more moderate frame size. They are well proportioned 100% Angus heritage, beef cattle that are naturally polled and docile animals. They have no dwarfism traits and were bred with an emphasis on weight gain and conformation; Lowlines are well suited to beef production on grass and because of their lower maintenance costs, are more efficient converters of grass to meat than today’s larger breeds.
What size are they? Average size mature cows generally weigh about 450 to 500 kilograms. Average size mature Lowline bulls weigh from 650 to 750 kilograms. The average birth weight of fullblood calves is 18 to 24 kilograms.
Do they calve easily? Yes, due to the smaller size of a newborn calf, assistance is rarely required at calving time and Lowline cows make excellent mothers.
Do Lowlines require special handling facilities? No, Lowlines don’t require expensive handling facilities. Being naturally polled and docile, they make for easier handling. They are an excellent choice for those just getting started in the cattle business.
Do they have special feed requirements or environmental limitations? Lowlines thrive on smaller amounts of feed, whether grass or hay because of their efficient conversion of grass to meat. Lowlines require limited amount of feed and this makes them ideal for smaller acreage and allows for more Lowlines to be stocked in the same area that would support traditional cattle. Rotational grazing more numbers of smaller animals on a property creates more hoof action that is beneficial to implanting seeds to re-establish grasses and legumes in sensitive areas. This makes Lowlines a better choice for riparian areas as well as arid or sandy soils. Being of true Angus, they adapt well to all weather conditions and climates as is demonstrated by the wide variety of Lowline members located in different areas of the Australia and the world.
What impact can Lowlines make in the commercial industry? Given their feed requirements for a commercial operation there are less inputs, higher stocking rates and more rib eye area per kilogram of carcass weight.
What are the benefits of Lowline cattle? Lowline cattle are easy calving, good natured cattle that are very feed efficient and maintain themselves on grass. They have excellent taste, texture and tenderness beef characteristics and exceptional ribeye area per kilogram of body weight which translates to very high yielding, high quality, high value beef carcasses. Lowlines answer the challenges of both the large scale farms and the small acreage farmers. Lowline bulls provide a commercially viable alternative to traditional choices of bulls for dairy heifers. Low birth weights and unassisted calving - Lowline X dairy calves have typically low birthweights. Due to this low calf weight, dairy heifers calve easily and unassisted. Lowline bulls are a popular choice for heifer bulls with traditional beef breeders. Lowlines are also a perfect choice for small acreage farmers. Their small size makes them easy to handle and minimizes equipment requirements. Their feed efficiency improves the carrying capacity of a farm. They produce exceptional quality beef. Lowline and Lowline cross cattle are extremely well suited to grass-fed beef production as they are easy fleshing and will finish on a high roughage ration, producing high value carcasses with a minimum of input costs.
Are Lowline Cattle Only in Australia? No, Lowline cattle have been adopted across the world with the biggest herd in the USA with more than 1200 registered breeders across America. Lowlines are also now popular in Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, China and across Europe.