The Luing is 75% shorthorn 25% Highland. The breed was established through a linebreeding program based on these percentages so they don't vary. Having said that in Canada we have an upgrading register where a 7/8ths female or 15/16ths male is considered purebred. We are currently upgrading quite a few from a commercial Red Angus base. Note I said commercial Red Angus base - I haven't seen purebred Red Angus here that would help our breed, In my opinion they are mostly too big, grainfed and with little foraging ability.
The right type of red Angus cow is fairly complimentary to the Luing. As for other crosses - the Simmental x Luing is popular in Scotland because they want a big, very milky cow to justify the cost of keeping her indoors over winter in that wet climate. 50% Luing, 25% Horned Hereford and 25% Simmental was a cross used in the 1970s in Canada which seemed to work well. They would be too big for my operation where I want a low maintanence forager. One cross I wouldn't recommend is back to a Galloway or Highland. You finish up with hair and not much else.
The haircoat certainly suits cooler climates but these cattle do shed their winter coats easily and most are as slick as Angus in summer. A Dr Hopkins of Oxford, Mississippi ran Luings for 20 years - cattle that came from Canada and he bred them to Brahma type cattle to suit the climate. I would think they would do very well in central US states.
The Luing breed is, and always has been, selected for functional efficiency with fertility, longevity and foraging efficiency it's most important traits. I have one cow coming 21 years old this year and two coming 20 years old!
