Luing
Scottish Super Breed
Luing cattle (pronounced ling cattle) are a beef breed developed on the island of Luing in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland
The development of the Luing breed began in 1947 when three brothers Denis, Shane and Ralph Cadzow purchased the island of Luing off the west coast of Scotland. Their initial breed choice was the Beef Shorthorn x Scottish Highland, a popular F1 commercial cow that was well suited to their environment. They found this crossbred cow worked well for them but maintaining separate herds of Shorthorns, Highlands and the F1 crosses.
They bred an exceptional Shorthorn bull back to their F1 cows and in 1952 they retained two of the resulting 3/4 Shorthorn 1/4 Highland bulls. In time breeding these bulls back to their F1 cows established the 5/8 Shorthorn, 3/8 Highland make-up of the Luing breed as we know it today.
The development of the Luing breed began in 1947 when three brothers Denis, Shane and Ralph Cadzow purchased the island of Luing off the west coast of Scotland. Their initial breed choice was the Beef Shorthorn x Scottish Highland, a popular F1 commercial cow that was well suited to their environment. They found this crossbred cow worked well for them but maintaining separate herds of Shorthorns, Highlands and the F1 crosses.
They bred an exceptional Shorthorn bull back to their F1 cows and in 1952 they retained two of the resulting 3/4 Shorthorn 1/4 Highland bulls. In time breeding these bulls back to their F1 cows established the 5/8 Shorthorn, 3/8 Highland make-up of the Luing breed as we know it today.
The breed of red-brown cattle are moderately sized and extremely hardy. The breed is still farmed today, mainly in Scotland but also in other areas of the world.
The average Luing cow will give birth to 10 calves in a lifetime because of their longevity. This has been attributed to the traits inherited from their Highland cattle ancestors.They typically have hair of a medium length and a red or dun coloured coat.
The average Luing cow will give birth to 10 calves in a lifetime because of their longevity. This has been attributed to the traits inherited from their Highland cattle ancestors.They typically have hair of a medium length and a red or dun coloured coat.
Luing cows are fertile and inherit the exceptional longevity of their distant Highland ancestors. Luing are regular breeders averaging at least nine calves in their lifetime. Teenage cows are common and some continue to produce calves beyond twenty years of age. Considering the large financial investment involved in rearing a replacement heifer, longevity in the cow herd is a much overlooked trait.
Purebred
Maintaining a pure bred Luing herd allows for a self-sustaining and predictable population that will be better acclimatized to their environment and the owners management. Maintaining a closed herd reduces the risk of introducing disease or health problems into your herd. Purebreds seem to be tougher than crossbreds with greater resilience during adverse weather events and other challenges.
Crossbreeding
Breeding a bull from one breed of cattle to a cow of a different breed is termed cross breeding and results in cross bred progeny. Research has shown the performance of these first generation of cross bred animals is better than either of their parents. The increased performance is attributed to a genetic phenomena termed heterozygosity, which is also called hybrid vigor. In its simplest form, the combination of genes from distinctly different parents results in a genetic combination that produces cattle with superior growth, longevity and fertility.
The most successful cross bred cattle are produced by using breeds that are are as genetically different as possible as this increases levels of heterosis. Luing cattle are well suited for this purpose as the Luing gene pool is distinctly different from all the common cattle breeds. They also have some useful traits to contribute to a cross breeding program including fertility, calving ease, insulating winter coat and foraging ability.
The most successful cross bred cattle are produced by using breeds that are are as genetically different as possible as this increases levels of heterosis. Luing cattle are well suited for this purpose as the Luing gene pool is distinctly different from all the common cattle breeds. They also have some useful traits to contribute to a cross breeding program including fertility, calving ease, insulating winter coat and foraging ability.
The breed is now a 'breed of our time' and is currently thriving right across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South America.