It has been difficult to select for increased carcass yeild in catttle, as yeild is governed by many interacting traits. Small beef breeds have a reputation for efficient pasture conversion, better fertility, with more of the higher value meat cuts per hectare, as 'up to' two times the number small cattle as against normal breeds can be carried on the same area of land. A picture of a Miniature hereford is at the Diamond R Cattle Company website Miniature Herefords in New Zealand - details of bloodlines in NZ and breeding history in Texas. Lowline Derived from a cattle research project started by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in 1974. Lowline cattle have been developed soley in Australia.
Cows are about a metre high at the shoulder.
One of the interesting traits of the lowliner is that the meat is naturally 'marbled' even when soley pasture fed. Lowlines are noted for the efficiency of production of the prime meat part of the carcass. The hind quarters of this breed are well developed, which increases the proportion of prime cut meat. Again, the higher stocking rate means more production per hectare. Lowlines are one of the most docile breeds of cattle, and are easy calvers.