our history
1929
Lowline cattle are a pure Australian breed of cattle. The original cattle were purchased form Glencarnock Ranch, an Aberdeen Angus Seed Stock producer in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Top Angus from Scotland, Canada and the USA were added to the herd over the next 35 years. The herd was then closed.
1974
The Trangie herd was divided into three groups based on yearling growth rates. They became the High Lines, the Low Lines, and the randomly selected Control Lines. The Australian government began a research program involving a detailed evaluation of weight gain, feed intake, reproductive performance, milk production, carcass yield and quality and structural soundness. The Low lines were found to be comparable in their protein conversion while maintaining the other desired research outcomes.
1992
Research was completed. Interest was great in the Low lines, as they had the desirable characteristics of the Angus breed, but stood only 39-43 inches high. A new breed, the “Lowline” had been created. The herd was sold and the Australian Lowline Association was formed.
1996
Six Lowline cows were brought to Canada and were placed in an embryo transfer program in Alberta. The Canadian and American Lowline Associations were formed.
2008
Presently there are Lowline cattle operations successfully established in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and China. Approximately 300 registered fullblood Lowline cattle can be found across Canada in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
statistics
| Breed |
Avg.
Number of breeding cows per 100 acres* |
Pounds
of avg carcass per head wt. at 15 months off grass |
Pounds
of carcass weight per acre |
Retail
carcass yield % saleable weight |
Pounds
of retail product per acre |
| Simmental |
23 |
556 |
115.0 |
69% |
79.4 |
| Waygu |
38 |
442 |
151.1 |
55% |
83.1 |
| Shorthorn |
28 |
532 |
132.4 |
65% |
86.1 |
| Hereford |
30 |
552 |
147.2 |
64% |
94.2 |
| Murray
Grey |
32 |
547 |
157.7 |
67% |
105.7 |
| Angus |
33 |
543 |
161.7 |
68% |
110.0 |
| Lowlines |
54 |
418 |
203.1 |
76% |
154.3 |
|
*90%
calving rate.
Trangie
Research Center data. Regions will vary but similar
averages should apply. |
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did
you know ??
• Producers
can expect to finish Lowline steers at approx. one
half the cost of large commercial steers.
• Future
direction is towards more organically grown foods.
Consumers are demanding organically/naturally finished
beef products. Lowline cattle will fit into the natural
beef program because of their ability to be "easy
doing" type of cattle -- finishing entirely
on grass if you choose or just a short period of
grain feeding. The added benefit to the producer
is less feed costs, which translates into higher
profits.
• Locker
beef business due to the smaller, more convenient
carcass size to accommodate home freezer space.
Comparison at same age.
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