Australian Lowline

The Australian Lowline is a beef-cattle breed developed in Australia from Aberdeen Angus cattle and selectively bred for small size.

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Trangie Agricultural Research Centre: An agricultural research centre in New South Wales, Australia, where the Lowline breeding project began. The centre established the project that produced the Australian Lowline.
Artificial selection: A breeding process in which humans choose which organisms reproduce to increase desired inherited traits. Repeatedly choosing smaller cattle shifted the line’s average size.
Beef cattle: Cattle raised primarily for meat production. Australian Lowlines belong to the beef-cattle sector.
Miniature cattle: Cattle breeds or populations selectively bred for substantially smaller stature than conventional cattle. Australian Lowlines are often grouped with miniature cattle, though their origin differs.
Australian Agricultural Council: A body that coordinated agricultural research and policy among Australian governments. Its support helped launch the Trangie cattle-breeding experiment.
Quantitative genetics: The study of inherited traits shaped by many genes and environmental influences. Body size responds to selection through many small genetic effects.
Smallholding: A small agricultural property operated for farming or livestock production. Their compact size can suit smaller farms with limited space.
Dexter cattle: A small Irish cattle breed traditionally kept for both milk and meat. Dexters are a distinct established breed, not an Angus selection line.
Aberdeen Angus: A Scottish beef-cattle breed known for black, polled cattle and widespread use in beef production. Australian Lowlines descend from the Aberdeen Angus herd used at Trangie.
Heritability: A measure of how much variation in a trait within a population is associated with genetic differences. The response to selecting smaller cattle depends on inherited variation in size.