Murray Grey Beef Breed

Murray Grey Beef Breed LIVESTOCK Beef 16-6-34 My husband and I raise Murray Greys, an Australian breed, and we're also involved in the Northwest Murray Grey Association. They're tough and can handle harsh conditions yet they're very docile and easy to handle. Murray Greys developed as the result of a genetic accident on an Australian ranch in 1905 when a roan Shorthorn cow bred to Aberdeen Angus bulls started drop-ping only grey calves, 12 in all over the years. The rancher's wife liked the grey animals and the rancher didn't want to "contaminate" the rest of his herd, so he didn't take them to market. The herd of greys was eventually sold to another rancher in 1929 who developed the breed, maintaining the unusual color along with other desirable characteristics from the two parent breeds. In 1962 the first Murray Grey breed association was formed and a few of the animals were shipped to the U.S. Being from Australia, Murray Greys thrive on hot, difficult terrain but are also well-suited to colder climates. It's not uncommon to see them out rustling feed at 30 degrees below zero with a stiff wind blowing when other breeds run for the shed. Many ranchers breed Murray Grey bulls to first-calf heifers because of their easy calving ability. Murray Greys calve at 60 to 80 lbs. Cows are highly fertile and wean at 50 percent or more of their own body weight. All animals are naturally polled. Heifers reach 700 tbs. at yearly age and 1,300 lbs. at maturity. (Linda Jensen, Northwest Murray Grey Association, P.O. Box 4, Gienns Ferry, Idaho 83623 ph 800 437-6977 or 208 366-2670)

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