The Luing
About The Luing
Why Luings? The Luing breed has much to offer as the hill and upland sector of British agriculture seeks to offset higher feed, labour and building costs. Developed as a cow breed for purely commercial purposes, the Luing continues to fill a critical gap in beef production.
The Luing is extremely hardy and an efficient and fertile mother. Its ability to rear a suitable calf in adverse weather conditions is widely renowned. With good sound feet, and a strong bone structure its considerable merits guarantee a good investment and currently place it high on many farmers' wish lists.
History of The Luing Breed
The Luing breed was famously evolved by the Cadzow brothers on the Island of Luing in Argyll off the west coast of Scotland. Admiring the outstanding complementary qualities of two great beef breeds – the Beef Shorthorn with its fleshing qualities and the Highlander with its ruggedness and hardiness, in 1947 they selected some of the best first cross Shorthorn/Highland heifers that could be procured.
These heifers were bred to the Shorthorn bull, Cruggleton Alastair. Two sons of this breeding were kept and mated to their half-sisters: Luing Mist in 1952 and Luing Oxo in 1953. From then on, by following up this in-breeding with line-breeding, the Luing breed was firmly established and with many generations sired by Luing bulls, they proved themselves as breeding true to type. The British Government officially recognised the Luing as a breed in its own right in 1965.
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.
Breed Guidelines at a Glance
“Sound, practical reproductively efficient cattle with good temperaments and longevity will never go out of style”.....Duello 1955
Bull Selection
Selection of a service sire is a hugely important decision. It is recommended that breeders use as much information as is available, including assessing the dam's maternal characteristics. The Luing Cattle Society try to provide as much maternal data as possible on its herdbook and in sale catalogues. All bulls forward for Society Sales have had their dam inspected and classified and their score data is available on Grassroots for use in your selection decision making.
Stature
Bulls offered at annual February sale to be at least 18 months old on day of sale and not less than 52” high at shoulder and min 38cms scrotal circumference.
Characteristics
- Bull producers should be totally confident in their bulls' ability to produce sound, reproductive cattle
- Use the best sire possible for your herd requirements
- Check out his dam for feet, locomotion, udder, milkiness and Luing characteristics - all dams of bulls sold at Society sales have been inspected/classified and scores are available on Grassroots.
- Aim for the right balance between conformation and milkiness
- Good muzzle and side jaw
- Good disposition, placid eye but with enough sparkle and presence
- Strong back with plenty of muscle through the top - from the shoulder through to the rump
- Well developed crest
- Good hind leg with clean hock and enough crank to give flexible action
- Sound feet absolutely essential
Cows
Stature
- Keep her ladylike!
- Kind, sweet well proportioned head
- Fairly broad muzzle
- Not too short between nose and eyes
- Large ears
- Quiet, gentle eyes
- Clean, pink nose now essential
- Black noses – now unacceptable at the premier sale
- Polled cattle now becoming increasingly sought after
- Medium length coat with mossy underlay - correct for outwintering
- Thickness of skin under the hair that helps animal withstand the cold
- Fine, graceful neck
- Clean brisket
- Fine shoulders leading to fairly lengthy top
- Good width over the hooks
- Plenty of length between the hooks and pins - aids easy calving
- Heart girth - both depth and spring of rib
- Bit of middle or tummy acceptable
- Select characteristics associated with ease of calving
- Udder - good, set fairly high, medium sized teats
- Pendulous udders and big teats - HIGHLY undesirable
- Point of tail should reach point of hock
- Short tails highly undesirable
Colour
- Reds, roans and yellows most popular
- Broken colours and pure white less desirable
Legs and Feet
- Breed generally renowned for good feet and legs
- Sound feet crucial
- Foot should have a broad hoof
- Straight toes
- Good depth of heel
- Undesirable – straight hind legs
Temperament
- Generally good
- Make allowances at calving time......
- As good mothers – can be very possessive during first few weeks
- Avoid stary, goggle eyed cattle