Murray Grey

Murray Grey cows and a calf in snow, Walcha NSW

A silver grass-fed Murray Grey heifer and sheep.

Murray Grey is a breed of Australian polled beef cattle that originated in the upper Murray River valley on the New South Wales/Victorian border.

History

The Murray Grey breed was developed from an initial chance mating of a black Aberdeen Angus bull and a roan Shorthorn cow in 1905. 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.^[1]

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 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 Asian countries.

The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society performance records the herd using the internationally recognized Breedplan for monitoring growth, milk and carcase quality.^[2]

Breed characteristics

Size

Murray Grey cattle are of a moderate size, possess sound structure and have good walking ability. Murray Grey bulls will usually weigh 817-1,135 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. Cows are heavy milk producers with good udders and teats. Calves grow quickly and are adaptable to all climates.

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), photosensitivity reactions and sunburned udders. 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.^[3] 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 beef carcases without excess subcutaneous or inter-muscular 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.^[4] In Australia Murray Greys have dominated hoof and carcase competitions for many years.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Distribution

Murray Grey cattle, embryos and semen have been exported to Canada, 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.^[8]

References

• Stephens, M (et al.), Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Export Corporation, 2000 (4th ed), ISBN 1 74036 2160

See also

• Effect of Genotype on Performance and Carcase Characteristics of Summer-Inducted Feedlot Cattle
• American Murray Grey Association (USA)
• Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society (AUS-Global)
• Murray Grey International Association (USA-Global)
• Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society (UK)
• New Zealand Murray Greys