Murray Grey
Encyclopedia
Murray Grey is a breed of Australia
n polled beef cattle
that was developed in the upper Murray River
valley on the New South Wales
/Victorian border. They have evolved into a versatile breed that does well in a wide range of environments and produces top quality carcases.
cow in 1905 during the Federation drought
. The resulting thirteen dun-grey calves from these matings were kept as curiosities and then bred on the Thologolong property along the Murray River
in New South Wales
by Peter and Ena Sutherland.
These unusually coloured cattle grew quickly, were good converters of feed and produced quality carcases. Local cattlemen soon became interested in the greys and began breeding them. The first larger-scale commercial herds were established in the 1940s. In the 1960s several grey cattle breeders were selling them as a commercial enterprise and the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society was formed to register the cattle and to administer the breed. There are Murray Grey registries in Canada
, New Zealand
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
. In New Zealand Murray Greys have been favoured because of their resistance to Facial eczema
which is a problem in other cattle breeds.
In 1963 negotiations were made to have the similar Tasmanian Grey
beef cattle accepted into the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society, but it was not until 1981 that the two organizations combined.
Greyman cattle
were developed in Queensland
in the 1970s, specifically to suit the Queensland environment, by combining Murray Grey and Brahman
breeds. Cattle breeders in the northern and western regions of Australia are increasingly using Murray Grey genetics to cross with Bos Indicus cattle to improve fertility, docility and carcase quality. Murray Greys are the third largest breed in Australia and because of their superior marbling
and carcase traits, are in strong demand for meat exports to Asia
n countries.
The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society performance records the herd using the internationally recognized Breedplan for monitoring growth, milk and carcase quality.
On 11 January 2011 a Murray Grey cow was swept 95 kilometres away by the flood waters that raced through a property owned by Veronica Nutley, at Patrick Estate, near Lowood in the Brisbane Valley. The cow, Danette was found three days later bobbing along and towed through mangroves to shore. She had somehow dodged the currents, obstacles and sharks during her marathon journey. She was identified by her National Livestock Identification System
(NLIS) ear tag and returned to her owner. The cow's epic journey has been the subject of an e-book, Patty the Wonder Cow: The Cow Who Swam Through a Monsoon by Karen Jackman.
reactions and sunburned udder
s. They have performed well in snow country and in a trial which was undertaken at a commercial feedlot between December 2002 and June 2003 to determine the effect of high heat load on performance and carcase characteristics when fed a high energy diet for 165-183 days. In this heat stress trial they out performed the other trialled breeds by producing the highest average daily weight gains over this period. Their superior performance in this trial was attributed to their lighter coloured coats.
Murray Greys produce marbled
beef carcases with intramuscular seam fat of the type that is preferred in Japan and other Asian markets.
In 1967 three carcases were shipped from Australia to the Smithfield Show in the UK where they finished first, second and third in the Commonwealth carcase competition. In Australia Murray Greys have dominated hoof and carcase competitions for many years.
The Murray Grey breed was the largest represented breed at the 2008 Calgary Stampede
Carcase Competition. A Murray Grey steer was declared the Grand Champion Carcase there for the second consecutive year.
In 2008 or the first time in the history of the Midland Bull Test and sale in Columbus, Montana
, a Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on the genetic test for marbling and a near perfect 9 on the genetic test for tenderness. No bull of any breed has ever performed so well before.
, New Zealand
, South America
, the United Kingdom
and United States
. Murray Grey cattle have also been accepted into the South African Registrar of Livestock Improvement’s books. In Paraguay
Murray Grey cattle have been used in crossbreeding programs involving Zebu and Charolais cattle. The Zebu and Charolais cattle there lacked the dark skins and early maturing traits of the Murray Greys. This crossbreeding program improved the fertility, calving ease and weight gains of the progeny produced there.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n polled beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
that was developed in the upper Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
valley on the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
/Victorian border. They have evolved into a versatile breed that does well in a wide range of environments and produces top quality carcases.
History
The Murray Grey breed was developed from an initial chance mating of a black Aberdeen Angus bull and a roan ShorthornShorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
cow in 1905 during the Federation drought
Federation Drought
In Australia, the Federation Drought is the name given to a prolonged period of drought that occurred around the time of Federation in 1901.Though often thought of as a long drought, until the record dry year of 1902 the period was actually one of a number of very dry spells intercepted with wetter...
. The resulting thirteen dun-grey calves from these matings were kept as curiosities and then bred on the Thologolong property along the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
by Peter and Ena Sutherland.
These unusually coloured cattle grew quickly, were good converters of feed and produced quality carcases. Local cattlemen soon became interested in the greys and began breeding them. The first larger-scale commercial herds were established in the 1940s. In the 1960s several grey cattle breeders were selling them as a commercial enterprise and the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society was formed to register the cattle and to administer the breed. There are Murray Grey registries in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In New Zealand Murray Greys have been favoured because of their resistance to Facial eczema
Facial eczema
Facial eczema, FE, is a disease that mainly affects ruminants such as cattle, sheep, deer, goats and South American camelids ....
which is a problem in other cattle breeds.
In 1963 negotiations were made to have the similar Tasmanian Grey
Tasmanian Grey
The Tasmanian Grey is a polled beef breed of silver grey, grey or dun cattle developed in Tasmania, Australia, in the 1930s.Bill Reed of Parknook crossed an Angus bull with a white Shorthorn milking cow that produced grey offspring...
beef cattle accepted into the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society, but it was not until 1981 that the two organizations combined.
Greyman cattle
Greyman Cattle
Greyman are an Australian breed of beef cattle developed in Queensland in the 1970s, specifically to suit the Queensland environment, by combining the outstanding genetic characteristics of both the Murray Grey and Brahman breeds....
were developed in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in the 1970s, specifically to suit the Queensland environment, by combining Murray Grey and Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
breeds. Cattle breeders in the northern and western regions of Australia are increasingly using Murray Grey genetics to cross with Bos Indicus cattle to improve fertility, docility and carcase quality. Murray Greys are the third largest breed in Australia and because of their superior marbling
Marbled meat
Marbled meat is meat, especially red meat, which contains various amounts of intramuscular fat, giving it an appearance similar to a marble pattern.- Selective breeding :Marbling can be influenced by selective breeding...
and carcase traits, are in strong demand for meat exports to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries.
The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society performance records the herd using the internationally recognized Breedplan for monitoring growth, milk and carcase quality.
On 11 January 2011 a Murray Grey cow was swept 95 kilometres away by the flood waters that raced through a property owned by Veronica Nutley, at Patrick Estate, near Lowood in the Brisbane Valley. The cow, Danette was found three days later bobbing along and towed through mangroves to shore. She had somehow dodged the currents, obstacles and sharks during her marathon journey. She was identified by her National Livestock Identification System
National Livestock Identification System
The National Livestock Identification System is a livestock identification and tracking system used in Australia.The system uses RFID devices to identify and track livestock and keeps a central electronic database of an animal’s residency and animals it has interacted with...
(NLIS) ear tag and returned to her owner. The cow's epic journey has been the subject of an e-book, Patty the Wonder Cow: The Cow Who Swam Through a Monsoon by Karen Jackman.
Size
Murray Grey cattle are of a moderate size, possess sound structure and have good walking ability. Murray Grey bulls will usually weigh 817 to 1,135 kilograms (1,800-2,500 lbs); cows normally weigh 500-700 kg. They are a true medium-framed animal that can maintain body condition easily, without consuming large amounts of forage.Calving ease
Murray Grey calves are small when they are born and quick to gain their feet. Calves grow quickly and are adaptable to all climates. Cows are heavy milk producers with good dark udders and teats.Polled
Murray Greys are naturally polled, which is a dominant characteristic that is passed on to their progeny.Temperament
Murray Greys are docile cattle to work with. The cows are protective of young calves, though.Colour
Hair colour ranges from very light silver to chocolate or dun grey; a few animals are even black but the majority are silver to a silvery-dun color. This colouring is very dominant, so when crossed with another breed, the colour is grey or silver (light grey). Their skin has a dark pigmentation, which helps prevent cancer eye (ocular squamous cell carcinoma), photosensitivityPhotosensitivity in animals
Photosensitivity is an abnormal skin reaction to direct sunlight exposure. It is unrelated to a sunburn. These reactions are due to photosensitization, the accumulation of photosensitive compounds beneath the skin. In some cases, the photodynamic substances come from ingested plants or drugs, after...
reactions and sunburned udder
Udder
An udder is an organ formed of the mammary glands of female quadruped mammals, especially ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer. The udder is a single mass hanging beneath the animal, consisting of pairs of mammary glands...
s. They have performed well in snow country and in a trial which was undertaken at a commercial feedlot between December 2002 and June 2003 to determine the effect of high heat load on performance and carcase characteristics when fed a high energy diet for 165-183 days. In this heat stress trial they out performed the other trialled breeds by producing the highest average daily weight gains over this period. Their superior performance in this trial was attributed to their lighter coloured coats.
Carcase qualities
The Murray Grey is known world-wide for the economically important traits of calving ease, feed efficiency, and carcase quality. Traditional butchers prefer Murray Grey beef as its consistent quality and tenderness can be relied upon.Murray Greys produce marbled
Marbled meat
Marbled meat is meat, especially red meat, which contains various amounts of intramuscular fat, giving it an appearance similar to a marble pattern.- Selective breeding :Marbling can be influenced by selective breeding...
beef carcases with intramuscular seam fat of the type that is preferred in Japan and other Asian markets.
In 1967 three carcases were shipped from Australia to the Smithfield Show in the UK where they finished first, second and third in the Commonwealth carcase competition. In Australia Murray Greys have dominated hoof and carcase competitions for many years.
The Murray Grey breed was the largest represented breed at the 2008 Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
Carcase Competition. A Murray Grey steer was declared the Grand Champion Carcase there for the second consecutive year.
In 2008 or the first time in the history of the Midland Bull Test and sale in Columbus, Montana
Columbus, Montana
Columbus is a town in and the county seat of Stillwater County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,748 at the 2000 census.-History:The community originated as a stagecoach station on the Yellowstone River....
, a Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on the genetic test for marbling and a near perfect 9 on the genetic test for tenderness. No bull of any breed has ever performed so well before.
Distribution
Murray Grey cattle, embryos and semen have been exported to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Murray Grey cattle have also been accepted into the South African Registrar of Livestock Improvement’s books. In Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
Murray Grey cattle have been used in crossbreeding programs involving Zebu and Charolais cattle. The Zebu and Charolais cattle there lacked the dark skins and early maturing traits of the Murray Greys. This crossbreeding program improved the fertility, calving ease and weight gains of the progeny produced there.