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Choose Lowline cattle for the ultimate in high-quality, sustainable beef production

Contact Wessex Lowlines: www.wessexlowlines.com mail@wessexlowlines.com 01258 830568 07776 016473

www.facebook.com/wessexlowlines + Wessex Lowlines Dairy Farm Barn, Stubhampton, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8JU

5 reasons to choose Lowlines lThe original Angus beef cattle lEasy to handle and calve lProduce more beef per acre lPerfect for the serious smallholder or commercial beef unit lSustainable grass-fed beef

Lowlines are in fact the original Aberdeen Angus and are indigenous to the UK but it was the Australians that developed the breed through the 1900s.

The New South Wales Department of Agriculture purchased Angus stock from Scotland, Canada and America and selected Australian studs to form the foundation of the herd.

The trial which produced the Lowline

breed began in 1974. The aim was to establish whether large or small animals were more efficient converters of grass into meat. A control, high line and low line herd were established and evaluated on weight gain, feed intake, reproductive performance, milk production, carcass yield and structural correctness.

After 15 years the low line of cattle

were around 30% smaller than the high line but still demonstrated excellent feed conversion efficiency. A group of cattlemen persuaded the Department of Agriculture to sell the low line of cattle on the open market. On 8 August 1992, nine bulls, 23 heifers and seven cows were sold to seven producers. They then formed the Australian Lowline Cattle Association.

The history of Lowline cattle

The temperament of the breed is second to none. My son has shown our stock bull since he was 10 and we have never seen any signs of aggression from newly-calved femalesSam Maughan

l Ease of calving – small calves are up on their feet and looking for milk straight awayl Farm for the customer – smaller joints are in line with what shoppers wantl Cheap to run – Lowlines will finish on grass so no need for protein or concentrates l Temperament – docile and easy to handlel Naturally polled – no hornsl Good heritage – the original Angus so a well-proportioned animall Higher stocking density – stock 2.5 animals per acre l Great taste – beautiful marbled finish l Shorter gestation – calve up to two weeks earlier than most beef breeds

Why choose Lowlines?

What we have available

Bulls – a selection of high-quality, mature bulls are for sale

Yearling bulls – maximise your potential by investing in a young bull

Cows – if you are looking for a breed with great maternal instincts,

Lowlines make great mothers In-calf cows – invest in a pregnant Lowline to form the foundation of your herdHeifers – perfect for building up a herd In-calf heifers – even first-time mothers show ease of calvingAI straws – take away Lowline genetics Embryos – live viable embryos available

Our objective is to find like-minded breeders who we can help to set up a herdGeoff Roper

Owners Geoff Roper and Nick Weber have a rich and diverse background in agriculture and business. In 2010 the pair were the first to import live Lowlines from Canada for more than a decade and have created a rapidly-expanding herd at their 60-acre Dorset farm. Farm manager David

Maughan has more than 30 years’ experience working with a variety of beef and sheep breeds, looks after the day-to-day farming operation while his wife, Sam, runs the farm office and handles the shows at which the herd has been incredibly successful.

Buy your Lowlines from the experts

Colour The majority of Lowlines are black like the entire herd in Dorset. Some countries are known to produce a red Lowline.

Horns The breed is naturally polled so will have no horns.

Conformation Should be consistent with all British beef breeds of cattle, male and female.

Skin The skin should always be in good condition, soft and mellow. Hair should be plentiful and evenly distributed, but noting the normal differences expected in areas of extreme cold and heat.

Weight and size Mature bulls should measure about 110cm at the hip and mature females, 100cm.

Fertility Bulls, masculine in appearance, will be virile and with strong libido. Cows are feminine in appearance with breeding history of regular calving.

Sheath Retracted prepuce. Penis angle approx 25 degrees from the horizontal.

Udder and teats Balanced and well attached.

Disposition Docility should be a feature.

Legs and feet Sound feet and joints. Squarely set.

What to look for when choosing your cattle?

www.wessexlowlines.com 01258 830568 07776 016473

We are passionate about Lowlines because they retain all the virtues of the original Aberdeen Angus of the 20th century, making for a great beef animal in terms of finishing weight and eating quality Nick Weber

Visit our website: www.wessexlowlines.com Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wessexlowlines Drop us a line: mail@wessexlowlines.com Call: 01258 830568 Mobile: 07776 016473

Wessex Lowlines Dairy Farm Barn, Stubhampton, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8JU

Keep up to date with Lowline news

• Overall beef champion, Ellingham Show • Champion of any other beef breed, Stafford Show • Any other beef breed champion, Dorset County Show • Champion Lowline, Frome Show • Reserve champion; any other beef breed, Westmorland Show • Reserve junior and champion bull, any other beef breed, Newbury Show

Roll of honour

Cow- Heifer yearlings weigh around 190kg- Cows at three years old weigh an average of 320kg- Mature cows should stand between 95-105cm at the shoulder

Calf- At birth calves average 18-24kg- Gestation periods tend to be 7-14 days shorter than a typical beef animal- As bull yearlings they have increased to around 230kg

Bull- Mature bulls weigh in at 400kg- At three years of age the bulls will stand between 100-110cm at the hip - Bulls are docile and easy to handle