cowboy43
Well-known member
What is the story behind Low Line Angus ? Who buys them?
The industry wokred too long to get rid of the belt buckles to really be needing them againcowboy43":2uuhqac7 said:Dun
Would you explain your answer ?
Right on. They are a novelty breed only.dun":fikq4jbd said:I think they are the answer to an nonexistant question
Loch Valley Fold":aj0lutan said:The breed is basically a niche market People that only have a small amount of land & want to own several head of cattle, for something a bit different freezer beef the small size means they will fit into an average size family freezer, have been told they are easier to handle though from what I've seen a pig headed angus no matter what the size is still a pain in the backside if they don't want to go where you want them to go
dun":2mjz16yd said:The industry wokred too long to get rid of the belt buckles to really be needing them againcowboy43":2mjz16yd said:Dun
Would you explain your answer ?
The ones that I saw that they claimed were lowlines looked like Dexters without horns and a little (very little) more muscle.Keren":d4o54d5v said:dun":d4o54d5v said:The industry wokred too long to get rid of the belt buckles to really be needing them againcowboy43":d4o54d5v said:Dun
Would you explain your answer ?
With all due respect dun, have a look at the maturity pattern of a belt buckle, vs the maturity pattern of a modern lowline.
They are very very different animals.
I dont breed them, but have worked with them.
And yes, the Crazytown comment is dead right LOL
robert":2xr2nj6l said:Lowlines, where research goes bad :x
Lowline cattle were developed by the NSW Department of Agriculture from registered Angus stock at their research centre in Trangie NSW Australia. The research centre was created in 1929 to provide quality Angus genetics to the NSW cattle industry. Seed stock were purchased from Scotland, Canada, America and selected Australian Studs to form the foundation of the herd. From 1929 to 1963 the Angus herd was prominent in the Australian showing circuit and won many major awards. The research herd was closed to outside genetics in 1964 after the purchase of herd sires from leading Australian Studs, Wambanumba, Glengowan, Tulagi and Wallah.
In 1963 the emphasis at Trangie was changed to scientific research in the form of performance recording. The project, involving weight gain, structural measurements, objective visual assessment and selective breeding, continued through to 1973 and pioneered performance testing in Australia today. The trial which produced the Lowline breed began in 1974, with funding from the Australian Meat Research Corporation, to evaluate selection for growth rate on herd profitability. The aim was to establish whether large or small animals were more efficient converters of grass into meat. This project continued for 19 years. The Trangie herd was divided into three groups based on yearling growth rates. The high yearling growth rate cattle were named High lines, the low yearling growth rate cattle were named the Low line and a randomly selected group was named the Control line. A program of detailed evaluation was implemented, which included weight gain, feed intake, reproductive performance, milk production, carcass yield and structural correctness. The protein conversion performances of the High line and the Low line cattle were monitored and recorded on an individual basis. The lines continued to grow apart with the selection process and recorded on an individual basis.
After 15 years the Low line of cattle were around 30% smaller than the High lines. The result of the efficiency in conversion was the same for the bulk of the Low and High line groups. The original Low line herd comprised 85 cows, which were joined to yearling bulls also selected for low growth from birth to yearling age. From 1974 the Low line herd remained closed, with all replacement bulls and heifers from within the Low line herd.
Towards the end of the trial a group of interested cattlemen persuaded the Department of Agriculture to sell the Low line of cattle on the open market. On the 8th of August 1992, 9 bulls, 23 heifers and 7 cows were sold to 7 purchasers. They then formed the Australian Lowline Cattle Association. The complete dispersal sale followed on October 30, 1993 where 20 bulls were sold, together with 44 cows and 51 heifers.
We're used to the skeptics who think these cattle are 'miniatures'. We personally don't use the 'M' word 'cause it's pretty hard to call a 1200 lb cow 'miniature'. We just bought a couple commercial cows - one is 1/2 shorthorn/1/2 limmi and she's 1100 lbs; another is 1/2 limmi out of a big name clubby bull called Heat Seeker and she weights 1193 lbs. We have several fullblood lowline cows on hay only (no grain) that outweight these commercial cows and they would not be considered 'overweight'. And they don't have near the height that these 2 commercial cows have. We have several commercial cows that weight well over 1,600 lbs that we finally bred to lowlines to downsize them. If these cows can't raise a calf that's weaning weight is at least 40% of their mama's weight then they're not efficient. And our lowline mamas on average are weaning calves that are at least 40% of their body weight.djinwa":1zzqvqp2 said:LazyG, I wouldn't waste your time. Anyone who has cows under 1300 pounds is not welcome here. You also must feed the high growth calves a mostly grain diet, while treating them for the consequences, otherwise you are not part of "the industry".
What age are you considering your weaning calves?If these cows can't raise a calf that's weaning weight is at least 40% of their mama's weight then they're not efficient. And our lowline mamas on average are weaning calves that are at least 40% of their body weight.