Small but mighty; why Lowlines are perfect for smallholders

Standing at just over one-metre tall, Lowlines are the perfect fit for smallholders.

This breed is particularly useful at a time when rising input costs are putting immense pressure on businesses.

The little-known breed of beef cattle is derived from one of the most famous in the world, the Aberdeen Angus.

But while Lowlines retain the same beef-producing qualities of the Angus, there is one key difference; they’re 30 per cent smaller than their evolved ancestors.

With a herd of 200, Wessex Lowlines in Dorset boasts the largest herd of Lowline cattle in Europe.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

Geoff Roper wanted to produce beef in the most sustainable way possible, and it was this goal that first led him to the breed.

“Over time beef cattle have been bred to be bigger to maximise output but we are trying to approach things in a slightly different way,” says Geoff.

“We’re looking at stocking smaller animals but more of them to produce more beef per acre, due to the higher meat-to-bone ratio.