Murray Grey cattle facts for kids
The Murray Grey is a special type of cattle from Australia. They are known for being good for meat and don't have horns (they are 'polled'). This breed first started in the Murray River valley, which is on the border between New South Wales and Victoria.
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History of the Murray Grey Breed
The story of the Murray Grey cattle began by chance in 1905. A black Angus bull and a reddish-brown Shorthorn cow had calves that were a unique grey color. This happened during a very dry time in Australia. These first 13 grey calves were born on a farm called Thologolong near the Murray River. Peter and Ena Sutherland, who owned the farm, found them interesting and decided to breed more.
These grey calves grew quickly and turned their food into meat very well. They also produced excellent meat. Soon, other cattle farmers became interested in these special grey cows. By the 1940s, larger groups of Murray Greys were being raised for sale.
In the 1960s, more farmers started selling these grey cattle. Because of this, the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society was created. This group helps keep records of the cattle and manages the breed. Today, you can find Murray Grey records in countries like Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In New Zealand, these cattle are popular because they are strong against a problem called facial eczema.
In 1963, there were talks to combine the Murray Grey group with another similar group called the Tasmanian Grey beef cattle. However, the two groups didn't officially join until 1981. The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society uses a special system to track how well their cattle grow, produce milk, and create good meat.
Here's an amazing flood story from 2011! A Murray Grey cow was swept away by floodwaters for 95 kilometers (about 59 miles). This happened near Lowood in the Brisbane Valley. Three days later, the cow was found alive in Moreton Bay! She was pulled through some mangroves to the shore. Farmers knew it was her because of her special ear tag. She was then safely returned to her owner.
Characteristics of Murray Grey Cattle
Size and Build
Murray Grey cattle are a medium-sized breed. They have a strong body and can walk well. Male Murray Grey bulls usually weigh between 817 and 1,135 kilograms (about 1,800 to 2,500 pounds). Female cows typically weigh from 500 to 700 kilograms (about 1,100 to 1,540 pounds).
Coat Color
Their hair color can be very light silver, chocolate brown, or dark grey. Some are even black, but most are silver or a silvery-grey color. This grey color is very strong. So, if a Murray Grey is bred with another type of cattle, the calf will usually be grey or light grey.
Their skin is dark, which is helpful. It protects them from eye cancer, skin problems from the sun, and sunburned udders. These cattle do well in snowy places. They also performed very well in a study about heat. In this study, they gained the most weight each day compared to other cattle. This was because their lighter coats helped them stay cooler in the heat.
In 1967, three Murray Grey cattle were sent from Australia to a competition in the UK. They won first, second, and third place! In Australia, Murray Greys have won many awards for their quality meat.
At the 2008 Calgary Stampede Carcase Competition, Murray Greys were the most common breed. A Murray Grey steer (a young male cattle) was named the Grand Champion for its meat for the second year in a row.
In 2008, something amazing happened for the first time at a bull test and sale in Montana, USA. A Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on a test for meat marbling (the tiny bits of fat that make meat tasty). It also scored a near-perfect 9 for meat tenderness. No other bull of any breed had ever done so well before!
Where Murray Grey Cattle Live
Murray Grey cattle, their embryos (very early stage calves), and semen have been sent to many countries. These include Canada, New Zealand, South America, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They are also recognized in South Africa.
In Paraguay, Murray Grey cattle have been used in special breeding programs. They were crossed with Zebu and Charolais cattle. The Zebu and Charolais cattle there didn't have dark skin and didn't mature as quickly as the Murray Greys. By crossing them, the new calves had better fertility, were easier to be born, and gained weight faster.
