SCOTTISH GREYS CATTLE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27838, 10 December 1955, Page 7

SCOTTISH GREYS CATTLE

NEW ABERDEEN ANGUS CROSS

AUSTRALIAN BREEDER’S ENTERPRISE

Aberdeen Angus cattle have the reputation of being among the most dominant breeders in existence. Yet, an Upper Murray cattleman, Mr Keith Sutherland, of Thologolong, has evolved a herd of Scottish Grey Aberdeen Angus. The greys are common in Scotland, but none was ever imported to Australia. The origin of those being bred on Thologolong traces back to a “badcoloured” Shorthorn cow, purchased in 1914. She had come from Queensland, and was one of a mob of cows secured at nearby saleyards. She was more of a yellow and white, than a red and white, and all calves from her were subsequently mousey grey. Since then—4l years—Aberdeen Angus bulls, bred in the station’s stud herd, have been crossed with grey females, and they now number 40 head. They are run as an entirely separate herd.

Scottish Greys are quiet cattle, and steers sell very well. For their age, they have a little more size than the Aberdeen Angus, and are said to kill out at up to 1001 b heavier. Very Dominant They are very dominant in breeding. A grey bull over Aberdeen Angus cows will always throw grey progeny, and vice versa. And the owner has observed that the greys never throw back to black. However, a young grey bull, recently used on grey females, threw a white calf. Most of the Thologolong bull calves have been sold later as steers, but there

is strong interest in these unusual coloured cattle from cattlemen in the Upper Murray. So far, only two known consignments of Scottish Grey steers have been sold at Newmarket, Melbourne’s

stock selling centre. The most recent, lot comprised 14 head, which sold tu £55, and averaged £5l 0s 7d. They had come from an Upper Murray property. A regular observer at Newmarket described them as “really solid cattie.” Those attending the sale took them to be dun Galloways. The herd is not eligible for registration as an Aberdeen Angus herd. It is understood that the Australian Aberdeen Angus Society made this ruling, because it feared that the Scottisn Greys and dun Galloways could easily be confused. Mr Sutherland’s sons, who own and run the herd, could register their herd as a breed of its own. And as registered bulls have been used on grey females for 41 years, the owners could support claims they might wish to make about the breed’s standards and prospects. Apart from those at Thologolong, and a few that have been sold to a cattleman further up the Murray, it is doubted whether there are any others in Australia.