AUSTRALIAN LOWLINES
Small Angus beef cattle, scientifically developed for better feed efficiency,
good temperament and superior meat

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Australian Lowline cattle are the result of 60 years of New South Wales Department of Agriculture research aimed at improving the Australian Aberdeen Angus herd. From 1930, Trangie Research Station, NSW, worked with the Australian Meat Research Committee and the Meat Research Corporation line-breeding from 42 of the best Aberdeen Angus cattle that it was possible to source internationally. These cattle, which were much smaller than today's Angus, were selected for feed efficiency on traditional grass pastures.

By 1974, beef production methods were changing. Australia began to follow the US trend to produce larger framed cattle to finish in feed lots. At this stage the Trangie Angus herd was divided into three experimental groups :-

The Highline...the bigger cattle.

The Lowline...the smaller cattle.

The Control Line..a randomly selected control group.

All three groups were comparatively evaluated for weight gain, feed intake, reproductive performance, milk production, carcass yield and quality, and structural soundness. After 19 years of this programme, the Lowline had established at approximately 60% of the size of the larger Angus but had shown such efficiency as a grass converter that intrigued farmers led by Armidale grazier Ian Pullar, bought the herd from Trangie and established the Australian Lowline as a new breed.

The development of the Australian Lowline is one of the world's most interesting experiments in line breeding. A total of 42 Aberdeen Angus cattle had been bought for the Trangie herd in the period from 1929 to 1974 and from them (and no others) all Australian Lowlines are descended. Australian Lowlines are perfectly proportioned 60% versions of today's Angus with all of the best characteristics of their outstanding ancestors.

Australian Lowlines are genetically very "clean" because ALCA, the Australian Lowline Cattle Association, is not prepared to compromise the breed. To be registered in the stud book, calves must have 100% Australian Lowline ancestry verified by DNA matching to their parents. This means that all registrable members of the breed have an unbroken genetic line going back to the establishment of the Aberdeen Angus breed in Scotland in the 1800s. Because they cannot be "bred up," breeders claim that Australian Lowlines are probably the only purebred Angus cattle left in the world. They do not carry the Achondroplasia or Chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) genes which may occur in other small or miniature breeds. Genetic abnormalities recently appearing in Angus (such as "curly calf" syndrome) do not occur with Australian Lowlines. By protecting the gene pool, the risk of "throwbacks" is eliminated together with the risk of genetic deformity or abortion.

HISTORY OF THE TRANGIE HERD
Trangie Research Station's Aberdeen Angus foundation stock was obtained in 1929 from the Glencarnock Stud, Canada whose top sire, Blackcap Revolution, son of Earl Marshall, was then considered the best Aberdeen Angus bull in the world. Two of his sons, Glencarnock Revolution

and Brave Edward Glencarnock
were purchased by Trangie, together with a cow, calf, and 17 heifers. Further imports from Canada, US and the UK contributed to the success of this prize-winning government-owned stud which became the backbone of the Australian Aberdeen Angus herd.
Other imports included Revolution of Page 28th (US), Everside 2nd of Maisemore (UK), Erision of Harviestoun (UK, 3000 guineas,1947) Eblinettes General of Ada (Canada) Craven's Revolution Blackcap 7th(Canada) together with top cows and heifers from all three countries.
As the Australian Angus cattle herd developed, outstanding local bulls were also bought from leading New South Wales studs, Wambanumba, Glengowan, Tulagi and Wallah until in 1974 the decision was made to close the herd to outside animals. A total of 42 outstanding Aberdeen Angus cattle had been bought for the Trangie Research Station and from them (and only them) all Australian Lowline Cattle are descended.