The Aberdeen-Angus was introduced into America in the 1880’s and soon attained high popularity. The first two American herd books were published in 1886 and 1888 respectively. Research of historical cattle show archives from the 1880’s to the present, indicate that the Aberdeen Angus cattle, as well as other breeds, have undergone many different show fads and body styles. They have been bred to the size extremes of both large and small and everything in between. Growing up in the 1950’s, and 60’s, I remember the Angus on our farms as being more practical, easy to keep, moderately sized, square bodied cattle with their fat calves. For me the Lowline Angus is reminiscent of that breed, that populated the farms and ranches of my childhood. The smaller stature of the Lowlines along with their usually docile nature and high quality meat production is what makes the Lowlines so very appealing. Although not large by the ‘bigger is better’ standard, Lowline bulls often reach weights of 1500 lbs (plus) with hip heights ranging from 43” to over 50”. The cows often reach weights of 950 lbs (plus) with hip heights ranging 40” to 47”. As with the original Aberdeen Angus from the pure Scott lineage, the Lowlines still retain that inherent ability to convert low quality grass into high quality beef, without the costly supplementation.

 

Additional historical facts of the Lowline and Aberdeen Angus cattle can be read at:

www.usa-lowline.org/history.html  

For a enlightening photographic history of cattle sizes and cattle shows:
https://www.msu.edu/~ritchieh/historical/cattletype.html