View source for Luing cattle

{{Short description|Breed of cattle}}
{{Infobox cattle breed
| name          = Luing
| image         = Luing Cattle.jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| image_alt     = Luing cattle, side on, on the beach of Luing
| image_caption = A Luing cattle seen here on the Beach of [[Luing]]
| status        = 
| altname       =
| country       = UK ([[Scotland]])
| distribution  = 
| standard      = 
| use           = Meat
| nickname      = 
| maleweight    = 950&nbsp;kg
| femaleweight  = 500&nbsp;kg
| maleheight    = 140&nbsp;cm
| femaleheight  = 130&nbsp;cm
| skincolor     = 
| coat          = Red, [[Dun (colour)|Dun]]
| horn          = 
| subspecies    = Taurus
| note          = 
}}

'''Luing cattle''' (pronounced ''ling cattle'') are a [[beef cattle|beef breed]] developed on the island of [[Luing]] in the [[Inner Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/luing|title=Breeds of Livestock - Luing Cattle — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science|website=www.ansi.okstate.edu|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref> by the Cadzow brothers in 1947. It was formed by first crossbreeding [[Beef Shorthorn]] with [[Highland cattle]] and then breeding the resulting progeny with Beef Shorthorns to produce an animal three quarters Beef Shorthorn, one quarter Highland. The breed of red-brown cattle are moderately sized and extremely hardy. The intent was to produce a good beef cow with the ability to raise a calf under adverse weather conditions. It was officially recognised as a breed by the British government in 1965. The breed is still farmed today, mainly in Scotland but also in other areas of the world.

== History ==
Luings were first created by the Cadzow brothers; Ralph, Denis and Shane, in 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk/|title= Luing Cattle Society |work=luingcattlesociety.co.uk}}</ref> They crossbred two types of cattle to produce the Luing; the [[Highland cattle|Highland]] as the heifer and the [[Beef Shorthorn]] as the bull, and were the first new breed of cattle developed in Britain in over 100 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.highlandcattleworld.com/folds/Canada/canada_intro.html|title=Highland Cattle in Alberta|date=April 2006|work=The Alberta Beef Magazine|access-date=15 June 2016|via=Highland Cattle World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203062654/http://www.highlandcattleworld.com/folds/Canada/canada_intro.html|archive-date=3 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.britannicrarebreeds.co.uk/breedinfo/cow_luing.php|title = Brittanic Rare Breeds - Luing Cattle|access-date = 19 June 2015|archive-date = 4 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105557/http://www.britannicrarebreeds.co.uk/breedinfo/cow_luing.php|url-status = dead}}</ref> The Highland was chosen as it contributes the hardiness that we see in the breed today and the Shorthorn because of its fleshing qualities and flavour of meat.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = http://www.smallholderseries.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:cattle-breeds&catid=34:cattle&Itemid=141|title = Luing cattle – History and Characteristics|access-date = 13 June 2015|website = Smallholder Series|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170926162843/http://www.smallholderseries.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:cattle-breeds&catid=34:cattle&Itemid=141|archive-date = 26 September 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref> Through a breeding programme, the three sons established the breed that we have today. In 1965, the breed was officially recognised by the British Government.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk/index.php?page=history|title = Luing cattle – History|access-date = 13 June 2015}}</ref>

=== Today ===
The Cadzow family continue to farm on Luing and the breed remains popular on the surrounding isles, including [[Scarba]] and [[Torsa]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.harbro.co.uk/images/uploads/Beef_Update_North_East_Scotland_July_2012.pdf|title = Habro – Luing Cattle Today|date = July 2012|access-date = 11 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150614155435/http://www.harbro.co.uk/images/uploads/Beef_Update_North_East_Scotland_July_2012.pdf|archive-date = 14 June 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> The breed has been exported to countries across the world including Canada and New Zealand, and is highly regarded for hardiness and ease of handling and marbling of its meat.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/50/luing/overview/|title = The Cattle Site – Luing Cattle|access-date = 11 June 2015|archive-date = 27 August 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180827110424/http://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/50/luing/overview/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
The average Luing cow will give birth to 10 calves in a lifetime because of their longevity. This has been attributed to the traits inherited from their Highland cattle ancestors.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.luingcattle.com/#!about-the-breed/cwby|title = About Luing cattle|access-date = 19 June 2015|website = Canadian Luing cattle society}}</ref> They typically have hair of a medium length and a red or [[dun gene|dun]] coloured coat.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk/ Luing Cattle Society]
*[http://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/luing.html New Zealand Rare Breeds]
*[http://www.hallerstein-luing.de/ Luing Germany]
* [[:cs:Luingský skot]]
{{British livestock|R.}}
{{Scottish animal breeds}}{{Agriculture of Scotland}}

[[Category:Cattle breeds originating in Scotland]]
[[Category:Luing]]