What’s unique in Luings? The Luing is the best breed as the British agriculture sector aims to offset labor, higher feed, and building costs. Since it was created for commercial purposes, this breed bridges a significant gap in beef production. The Luing breed is efficient, hardy and the females are fertile. The cows’ rear calves in harsh weather conditions. It is a significant investment with a good bone structure and feet and is currently topping every farmer’s wish list.
Quick Facts About Luing Cattle
Breed Name: Luing
Place of Origin: The Island of Luing in Scotland
Uses: Meat
Bull (Male) Size: 950kgs
Cow (Female) Size: 500kgs
Color: Red, Dun
Lifespan: 13- 16 years
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Care Level: Hardy; no special care is required
Production: Beef
Optional: Milk
Luing Cattle Origins Image Credit: ozymandias11, Shutterstock Luing cattle are a breed of cattle reared for beef production. This breed was created in 1947 by Ralph, Shane, and Denis Cadzow on the Luing Island in Scotland. This breed was created by crossbreeding two best first cross breed; the Beef Shorthorn bulls and the Highland heifers. The brothers settled on the Shorthorn because of its flavor of meat and fleshing qualities. On the other hand, the Highland cut due to its hardiness seen in the Luing cattle. The British government officially recognized the Luing breed in 1965. The Cadzow family continues to elevate the breed as it remains popular about the isles like Torsa and Scarba. Luing Cattle Characteristics Pure-bred cattle are bred from two different F1 breeds. The offsprings of a pure breed are suitable to produce slaughter stock or cows for crossbreeding. These offsprings have a better or equal performance with the parents. When you cross breed Luing cows with terminal breeds such as Charolais, you produce heavy calves and maintain the maternal efficiency in the herd. Again, when you cross Luing bulls with maternal cows such as Red Angus, you produce F1 heifers with longevity and fertility. Here are the characteristics of the Luing cattle:
Hardy enough to withstand all weather all year round
Docile
Milky, fertile with good mother instincts
Excellent forage abilities
Good feet and legs
Excellent breeders of between 9 and 10 calves
Longevity of up to 16 years
Ease in having calves naturally
Low maintenance since they do not require extra rotation
Height of 130 cm for an average heifer and 140cm for a bull
Average weight 500kgs for cows and 950 for bulls
Fast growers
Good side jaw and muzzle
Great crest
Excellent hind leg with a crank for flexible action
Weather instincts
Thrive in extremely cold places
Natural beef off pasture
Very fertile
Require little supplementary diet
Weans calves up to 50% weight
Uses Luing cattle were created to produce beef and raise calves under harsh weather conditions. However, today this breed is mainly bred for meat production. The other obvious use is leather production from cattle hide. Another byproduct is gelatin which comes from connective tissues and is used in candy production. The other items produced from beef-by-product are dog food, insulin, glue, crayons, insulin, car wax, tires, deodorants, candles, dish soap, printing ink, highways, antifreeze, polish remover, bone china, rawhide bones, paintbrushes, toilet paper, hydraulic brake fluid, laundry pre-treatment, film and many more.
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A post shared by Jo Fewster (@island_shepherdess)
Appearance & Varieties Color
Roans, red and yellow
Pure white and broken colors
Stature
Large ears
Thick skin to withstand cold
Fine shoulders
Clean brisket
Pink nose
Gentle eyes
Broad muzzle
Proportional head
Legs and Feet
Sound feet
Straight toes
Broad hoof
Population/Distribution/Habitat
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The first breed of Luing cattle was sent to New Zealand in 1975 and Canada in 1973. This breed is in many countries outside of the UK, including Australia, Ireland, and America. The Luing cattle breed can comfortably utilize the following habitats, including scrub forests and savannas. As long as they have space and grass, they will thrive. Are Luing Cattle Good for Small-Scale Farming? In the past decade, the number of Luing breeders has increased tremendously. Luing cattle require low maintenance. For instance, they can fatten on grass and perform well even with low-quality feeds. They are also exceptional foragers and feed on different plants that other cattle cannot eat. Due to the reduced maintenance cost, Luing cattle are good for small-scale farming.
Featured Image Credit: Steve Meese, Shutterstock
What’s unique in Luings? The Luing is the best breed as the British agriculture sector aims to offset labor, higher feed, and building costs. Since it was created for commercial purposes, this breed bridges a significant gap in beef production.
The Luing breed is efficient, hardy and the females are fertile. The cows’ rear calves in harsh weather conditions. It is a significant investment with a good bone structure and feet and is currently topping every farmer’s wish list.
Quick Facts About Luing Cattle
Breed Name: Luing
Place of Origin: The Island of Luing in Scotland
Uses: Meat
Bull (Male) Size: 950kgs
Cow (Female) Size: 500kgs
Color: Red, Dun
Lifespan: 13- 16 years
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Care Level: Hardy; no special care is required
Production: Beef
Optional: Milk
Luing Cattle Origins
Luing cattle are a breed of cattle reared for beef production. This breed was created in 1947 by Ralph, Shane, and Denis Cadzow on the Luing Island in Scotland. This breed was created by crossbreeding two best first cross breed; the Beef Shorthorn bulls and the Highland heifers.
The brothers settled on the Shorthorn because of its flavor of meat and fleshing qualities. On the other hand, the Highland cut due to its hardiness seen in the Luing cattle.
The British government officially recognized the Luing breed in 1965. The Cadzow family continues to elevate the breed as it remains popular about the isles like Torsa and Scarba.
Luing Cattle Characteristics
Pure-bred cattle are bred from two different F1 breeds. The offsprings of a pure breed are suitable to produce slaughter stock or cows for crossbreeding. These offsprings have a better or equal performance with the parents.
When you cross breed Luing cows with terminal breeds such as Charolais, you produce heavy calves and maintain the maternal efficiency in the herd. Again, when you cross Luing bulls with maternal cows such as Red Angus, you produce F1 heifers with longevity and fertility.
Here are the characteristics of the Luing cattle:
Hardy enough to withstand all weather all year round
Docile
Milky, fertile with good mother instincts
Excellent forage abilities
Good feet and legs
Excellent breeders of between 9 and 10 calves
Longevity of up to 16 years
Ease in having calves naturally
Low maintenance since they do not require extra rotation
Height of 130 cm for an average heifer and 140cm for a bull
Average weight 500kgs for cows and 950 for bulls
Fast growers
Good side jaw and muzzle
Great crest
Excellent hind leg with a crank for flexible action
Weather instincts
Thrive in extremely cold places
Natural beef off pasture
Very fertile
Require little supplementary diet
Weans calves up to 50% weight
Uses
Luing cattle were created to produce beef and raise calves under harsh weather conditions. However, today this breed is mainly bred for meat production. The other obvious use is leather production from cattle hide.
Hardy enough to withstand all weather all year round
Docile
Milky, fertile with good mother instincts
Excellent forage abilities
Good feet and legs
Excellent breeders of between 9 and 10 calves
Longevity of up to 16 years
Ease in having calves naturally
Low maintenance since they do not require extra rotation
Height of 130 cm for an average heifer and 140cm for a bull
Average weight 500kgs for cows and 950 for bulls
Fast growers
Good side jaw and muzzle
Great crest
Excellent hind leg with a crank for flexible action
Weather instincts
Thrive in extremely cold places
Natural beef off pasture
Very fertile
Require little supplementary diet
Weans calves up to 50% weight
- Hardy enough to withstand all weather all year round
- Docile
- Milky, fertile with good mother instincts
- Excellent forage abilities
- Good feet and legs
- Excellent breeders of between 9 and 10 calves
- Longevity of up to 16 years
- Ease in having calves naturally
- Low maintenance since they do not require extra rotation
- Height of 130 cm for an average heifer and 140cm for a bull
- Average weight 500kgs for cows and 950 for bulls
- Fast growers
- Good side jaw and muzzle
- Great crest
- Excellent hind leg with a crank for flexible action
- Weather instincts
- Thrive in extremely cold places
- Natural beef off pasture
- Very fertile
- Require little supplementary diet
- Weans calves up to 50% weight
Another byproduct is gelatin which comes from connective tissues and is used in candy production. The other items produced from beef-by-product are dog food, insulin, glue, crayons, insulin, car wax, tires, deodorants, candles, dish soap, printing ink, highways, antifreeze, polish remover, bone china, rawhide bones, paintbrushes, toilet paper, hydraulic brake fluid, laundry pre-treatment, film and many more.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jo Fewster (@island_shepherdess)
Appearance & Varieties
Color
Roans, red and yellow
Pure white and broken colors
Stature
Large ears
Thick skin to withstand cold
Fine shoulders
Clean brisket
Pink nose
Gentle eyes
Broad muzzle
Proportional head
Legs and Feet
Sound feet
Straight toes
Broad hoof
Population/Distribution/Habitat
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Alastair Macdonald (@allycammac)
The first breed of Luing cattle was sent to New Zealand in 1975 and Canada in 1973. This breed is in many countries outside of the UK, including Australia, Ireland, and America.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jo Fewster (@island_shepherdess)
A post shared by Jo Fewster (@island_shepherdess)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Roans, red and yellow
Pure white and broken colors
- Roans, red and yellow
- Pure white and broken colors
Large ears
Thick skin to withstand cold
Fine shoulders
Clean brisket
Pink nose
Gentle eyes
Broad muzzle
Proportional head
- Large ears
- Thick skin to withstand cold
- Fine shoulders
- Clean brisket
- Pink nose
- Gentle eyes
- Broad muzzle
- Proportional head
Sound feet
Straight toes
Broad hoof
- Sound feet
- Straight toes
- Broad hoof
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Alastair Macdonald (@allycammac)
A post shared by Alastair Macdonald (@allycammac)
The Luing cattle breed can comfortably utilize the following habitats, including scrub forests and savannas. As long as they have space and grass, they will thrive.
Are Luing Cattle Good for Small-Scale Farming?
In the past decade, the number of Luing breeders has increased tremendously. Luing cattle require low maintenance.
For instance, they can fatten on grass and perform well even with low-quality feeds. They are also exceptional foragers and feed on different plants that other cattle cannot eat.
Due to the reduced maintenance cost, Luing cattle are good for small-scale farming.
Featured Image Credit: Steve Meese, Shutterstock
