About the Murray Grey Breed - Murray Grey Association Australia

Australia’s own beef cattle breed, the Murray Grey combines exceptional temperament, easy calving, outstanding carcase quality, and proven adaptability into one versatile package. Developed by Australians for Australian conditions, Murray Greys have earned their reputation as “easy care” cattle that deliver results on grass or in feedlots, for small operations or large enterprises.

A Uniquely Australian Breed

The Murray Grey is one of only two beef cattle breeds developed entirely in Australia. Originating from a chance mating in the upper Murray River Valley in 1905, the breed was refined over generations by Australian producers who selected for the traits that matter most in real-world beef production: fertility, temperament, structural soundness, and carcase quality.

Today, Murray Greys are bred across every Australian state and have been exported to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South America, and South Africa. The breed’s worldwide headquarters remain in Armidale, New South Wales—a testament to its Australian heritage.

Breed Characteristics

Size and Conformation

Murray Greys are moderate-framed cattle with sound structure and good walking ability. This moderate size contributes to their efficiency, calving ease, and suitability for a range of production systems.

Typical weights:

Cows: 500–700 kg (1,100–1,540 lb)
Bulls: 780–1,100 kg (1,720–2,420 lb)

Murray Greys display adequate length and thickness, well-balanced proportions, and strong muscling through the hindquarters and loin. Their moderate frame allows them to finish on grass without excessive supplementation, while still producing carcases that meet market specifications.

Coat Colour

Murray Grey coat colour ranges from light silver through various shades of grey to dark dun or chocolate, with some animals appearing almost black. The silver and lighter grey colours are most common and highly valued.

The distinctive colour comes from a dilution gene that modifies the black base coat inherited from their Angus ancestry:

Two dilution genes produce silver coat colour
One dilution gene produces grey coat colour
No dilution genes produces black coat colour

Grey is dominant over black, so when Murray Greys are crossed with other breeds, the progeny typically display the characteristic grey or silver colouring—making breed influence visible in crossbred programs.

Dark Skin Pigmentation

Beneath their lighter-coloured coats, Murray Greys carry dark skin pigmentation—visible around the eyes, on the muzzle, and on the udder. This combination of light hair and dark skin provides significant advantages:

Eye cancer resistance: Dark pigmentation around the eyes protects against ocular squamous cell carcinoma (cancer eye), a costly problem in cattle with light-pigmented skin
Sunburn protection: Dark-skinned udders resist sunburn damage that can affect milk production
Photosensitivity resistance: Dark pigmentation reduces susceptibility to photosensitivity reactions

Polled

All Murray Greys are naturally polled (hornless), eliminating the need for dehorning and reducing handling risks for both cattle and handlers. The polled gene is dominant, so Murray Grey bulls produce predominantly polled calves even when crossed with horned breeds.

Key Breed Advantages

Exceptional Temperament

Murray Greys are renowned for their docile, easy-going nature. This exceptional temperament makes them:

Safer to handle: Reduced risk of injury for handlers, particularly important for family operations and single-person management
Less stressful to work: Cattle that handle calmly require less labour and time during routine procedures
Better performers: Research shows calm cattle gain weight faster than flighty animals—approximately 0.4 kg per day advantage in some studies
Higher quality beef: Calm cattle produce more tender beef with better eating quality

The breed’s quiet disposition makes Murray Greys particularly suited to:

Smaller operations with limited handling facilities
Properties with inexperienced handlers
Lifestyle and hobby farms
Direct marketing operations where cattle may have contact with visitors

Easy Calving

Murray Grey calves are born small but vigorous, typically weighing 27–36 kg (60–80 lb) at birth. This moderate birth weight, combined with the breed’s structural correctness, results in:

Minimal calving assistance: The vast majority of births require no intervention
Heifer-safe genetics: Murray Grey bulls can be used confidently over first-calf heifers
Reduced calf mortality: Smaller calves are born more easily and get up to nurse quickly
Lower labour requirements: Less time spent checking and assisting during calving season

Despite their moderate birth weights, Murray Grey calves display excellent growth rates and reach competitive weaning weights through the breed’s efficient feed conversion.

Outstanding Carcase Quality

Murray Grey carcase performance has been proven in competition after competition. The breed’s achievements include:

1967 Smithfield Show (UK): Three Murray Grey carcases took first, second, and third in the Commonwealth Carcase Competition
Australian Royal Shows: Murray Greys have dominated hoof and carcase competitions for decades
2008 Calgary Stampede: Murray Grey was the largest represented breed in the Carcase Competition, with a Murray Grey steer winning Grand Champion Carcase for the second consecutive year
2008 Midland Bull Test (USA): A Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 for marbling genetics and near-perfect 9 for tenderness—unprecedented performance for any breed

Murray Grey carcases are characterised by:

Well-distributed marbling: Intramuscular fat that enhances flavour, tenderness, and juiciness without excessive external fat
High dressing percentages: Efficient conversion of liveweight to carcase weight
Excellent yield: High proportion of saleable meat relative to bone and waste
Consistent quality: Reliable performance that meets market specifications

The breed’s ability to marble on grass alone makes them particularly suited to grass-finished beef programs targeting premium markets.

Heat Tolerance

While derived from British breeds, Murray Greys demonstrate superior heat tolerance compared to their darker-coated cousins. Research at a commercial feedlot (December 2002 – June 2003) compared heat stress effects on Angus, Hereford, and Murray Grey cattle. The findings were significant:

Murray Greys produced the highest average daily gains during the summer feeding period
Under extreme heat, Murray Grey body surface temperatures were 38.4°C compared to 43.4°C for Angus—a 5°C advantage
Murray Greys maintained feed intake and growth when black cattle were heat-stressed

This heat tolerance is attributed to their lighter coat colour, which reflects more solar radiation. Combined with their dark skin pigmentation (which protects against sunburn and cancer), Murray Greys offer an ideal combination for Australian conditions.

Fertility and Maternal Ability

Murray Grey females are noted for:

High conception rates: Strong reproductive performance in natural mating and AI programs
Regular calving: Ability to produce a calf every 12 months
Good milk production: Adequate milk to raise vigorous calves to heavy weaning weights
Longevity: Murray Grey cows commonly remain productive for 12–15 years or longer
Quiet mothering: Protective but not aggressive, making calf marking and handling safer

Feed Efficiency

From their earliest days, Murray Greys were recognised as “superior converters of feed.” This efficiency means:

Lower cost of gain: Less feed required to produce each kilogram of liveweight
Grass finishing capability: Ability to reach market condition on pasture alone
Feedlot performance: Efficient conversion of grain when lot-fed
Economic advantage: Reduced feed costs translate directly to improved profitability

Crossbreeding with Murray Greys

Murray Grey genetics cross exceptionally well with other breeds, making them valuable in commercial crossbreeding programs.

Why Use Murray Grey Bulls?

When Murray Grey bulls are used over commercial cows:

Calving ease is improved across all breeds
Temperament of the calf crop becomes noticeably quieter
Carcase quality is enhanced, particularly marbling
Coat colour transfers, producing distinctive grey crossbred progeny
Heterosis (hybrid vigour) adds further performance advantage

The Greyman Composite

Developed in Queensland in the 1970s, the Greyman combines Murray Grey and Brahman genetics to create cattle suited to northern Australian conditions. Greyman cattle offer:

Heat and tick tolerance from Brahman ancestry
Carcase quality and temperament from Murray Grey influence
Improved fertility and calving ease compared to straight Brahman
Adaptability to tropical and subtropical environments

The Greyman demonstrates how Murray Grey genetics can enhance production in challenging environments.

Markets and Uses

Murray Greys suit a wide range of markets and production systems:

Domestic Markets

Grass-finished beef for local butchers and restaurants
MSA-graded beef for retail and foodservice
Premium branded beef programs
Direct marketing (paddock-to-plate sales)

Export Markets

Japan and Korea: Murray Greys are preferred for live export and chilled/frozen beef due to their feedlot performance and carcase quality
Premium grassfed programs for international markets

Production Systems

Pasture-based cow-calf operations
Grass finishing for domestic and export
Short-fed and long-fed feedlot programs
Stud breeding for seedstock sales

Specialty Uses

Dairy heifer mating: Low birth weight and easy calving make Murray Grey bulls safe for dairy heifers
Crossbreeding: Improving temperament and carcase quality in commercial herds
Small farm operations: Docile temperament and moderate size suit smaller properties

Climate Adaptability

Murray Greys have proven adaptable across diverse Australian environments:

Temperate regions: Their traditional home, from Victoria through NSW to southern Queensland
Cool climates: Perform well in snow country and high-altitude regions
Hot climates: Superior heat tolerance allows expansion into warmer areas
Northern Australia: As purebreds and through Greyman composites

In New Zealand, Murray Greys have been particularly favoured for their resistance to facial eczema—a significant problem for other British breeds in that country.

The Murray Grey Difference

What sets Murray Greys apart is not any single trait, but the combination of characteristics that work together to create genuinely easy-care, profitable cattle:

Trait	Murray Grey Advantage
Temperament	Among the most docile beef breeds
Calving	Low birth weights, minimal assistance
Maternal	Good milk, long productive life
Growth	Efficient feed conversion
Carcase	Proven marbling and tenderness
Adaptability	Performs in diverse climates
Colour	Distinctive, dominant grey
Health	Dark skin prevents eye cancer
Structure	Sound feet and legs for longevity

Getting Started with Murray Greys

Whether you’re looking to establish a purebred Murray Grey herd, introduce Murray Grey bulls to a commercial operation, or simply learn more about the breed, the Murray Grey Association Australia can help.

Our members breed Murray Greys across Australia and are happy to discuss how the breed might suit your operation. With affordable registration, lifetime cattle identification, and a supportive community of breeders, MGAA membership offers genuine value for producers of all sizes.

Contact us to learn more about Murray Grey cattle and MGAA membership.

“This breed by accident was nature’s, which in turn is God’s gift to our land Australia. These are our own cattle, our heritage, Australia’s heritage in the beef cattle world, and none can say agin this.”
— Helen Sutherland, founder of the Murray Grey breed