Murray Grey Association Australia

Who we are

Murray Grey Association Australia Inc. is a member-run organisation dedicated to stewarding one of Australia’s great beef breeds. Our core purpose is simple and enduring: maintain a transparent, reliable herd book; uphold the breed standard and bylaws; and champion Murray Greys in both stud and commercial settings. We keep overheads lean and empower local promotion groups and owners—because the best advocates for Murray Greys are the people who breed and believe in them. 

Our philosophy: purity, performance, practicality

MGAA is committed to genetic integrity. To be recognised for breeding, animals must be at least 93.75% Murray Grey. We also operate a structured upgrade pathway to support diversity—carefully managed to avoid introducing genetic disorders—so that “pure bred” means exactly that and progeny consistently exhibit the hallmark Murray Grey traits.
While we encourage disciplined performance recording (calving ease, growth, structure and, where possible, carcass data), MGAA does not publish EBVs/EPDs or composite indexes. Many such figures have become marketing tools; instead, we promote honest, documented on-farm measurement aligned to each producer’s goals. Members who require EBV participation can liaise with ABRI for multibreed registry options.

Why Murray Greys

Murray Greys are renowned for calm temperaments, maternal strength, easy calving, and the ability to finish beautifully off grass—traits that translate into low-stress management and premium eating quality. Their colour ranges from light silver to dark grey, and their naturally dark skin pigmentation helps resist eye cancer, photosensitivity and sunburned udders—useful across Australia’s varied climates. They are also polled, medium-framed, and adaptable in grass-fed and feedlot systems alike. 

The breed has excelled in trials and competitions for meat quality and carcass yield, with documented outperformance under heat-load conditions—an increasingly relevant advantage.

A distinctly Australian story

The Murray Grey story begins on the Sutherland family’s “Thologolong” property on the Upper Murray River, where a roan Shorthorn cow put to Angus sires produced an unusual line of grey calves. Through the vision and persistence of Helen (Player) Sutherland and the practical enthusiasm of neighbours such as the Gadd brothers of Mt Alfred, these “Mulberries” gained a reputation with butchers for exceptional yield and eating quality. Momentum grew, and in 1962 the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society was formed, formalising a breed already proving itself in the yards and on the plate.

The rise, challenges—and renewal

From the mid-1960s through the 1980s, Murray Greys were in hot demand, fetching headline prices and winning carcass contests. Popularity brought pressures: market shifts, some ill-judged crossbreeding that drifted from the original grass-fed strengths, and disease concerns that tarnished confidence. Yet the core genetic base remained strong. Today, with producers and consumers seeking climate resilience, grass efficiency, and superb eating quality, Murray Greys’ quiet strength—fertility, hardiness, feed conversion, and flavour—is fuelling a thoughtful resurgence grounded in their original purpose.

Globally proven, proudly Australian

Semen, embryos and cattle have established Murray Greys around the world, and their traits—docility, calving ease, dark skin, efficiency—have proven valuable in crossbreeding (including Bos indicus environments). The signature grey coat is dominant in crosses, and the breed’s adaptability has been documented from cool high country to hot feedlot trials.

What we offer members

• A robust herd book anchored in breed purity and practical governance. 
• Clear rules for outcross and upgrading to balance diversity with integrity. 
• Support for on-farm measurement that respects the realities of seasonal variation and enterprise goals. 
• Grass-roots promotion via member-led groups that keep costs low and impact high.  

Our ambition

Measured not by hype but by paddock performance and plate experience, Murray Greys have long punched above their weight in carcass and taste testing—especially off grass. As consumer demand grows for sustainable, pasture-raised beef with consistent quality and excellent Omega-3/-6 profiles, MGAA’s focus is to keep the breed true to type and commercially relevant—aiming, unapologetically, for the title of the world’s best grass-fed beef.

Get involved

Whether you’re running a stud, building a commercial herd, or exploring crossbreeding options, you’ll find a practical, producer-first home at MGAA. Join us, access the herd book, connect with promotion groups, and help write the next chapter of an Australian original.