The dappled coat pattern is loved by some people- some wonder whether it gives a clue to the origins of the breed. The photo above of one of the breeds most famous cows, Thologolong Boadicea, born 1953,  shows her beautiful dappling.


did you know -

Thologolong Boadicea has nine recorded calves. These include four of the most influential bulls in the breeds history with over 600 recorded progeny between them -


Thologolong Caesar

Thologolong Snowman

Michaelong Roman Invasion

Michaelong Choclate Soldier


 

where do murray greys come from


generally accepted origins


  1. •1905 - the first mulberry coloured calf born out of a Shorthorn cow and by an Angus bull. This is the accepted though unverifiable beginning of the breed.

  2. •When the MGBCS was formed in 1962 there were two major sources of the cattle accepted into the Murray Grey herdbook. These were ‘The Glen’ and ‘Thologolong’. ‘The Glen’ herd was represented by cattle derived from two primary sources, ‘Thologolong’ and from progeny bred up from Angus cows. ‘Thologolong’ was represented by cattle primarily derived from the first ‘mulberry’ calves and Angus sires.

  3. •Angus cows - The MGBCS has allowed Angus cows to be upgraded to Murray Greys

  4. •Angus bulls - More recently the MGBCS has allowed the use of Angus sires in upgrading programmes

  5. •Tasmania - Murray Greys were developed independently in Tasmania and even had their own society for some time. These genetics became available when the Tasmanian and Australian societies merged.

thologolong boadica

some observations


  1. ✤ At no time since the formation of the MGBCS has any other breed (other than Angus) been allowed in cattle registered with the MGBCS.

  2. ✤ The coat colour of a Murray Grey is not in itself a reliable guide of its purity. Science is not yet able to isolate the gene/s responsible for the silver coat colour.

  3. ✤ Variations in coat colour ranging from red to black may legitimately occur. Red can/could come from either the red gene in the Angus breed or from the Shorthorn infusion in the original 'mulberry' calves. Black of course comes directly from the Angus.

  4. ✤ The MGBCS set up a ‘black factor’ register in  2003 to allow the development of the naturally occurring black Murray Grey.

  5. ✤ The MGBCS does not allow the recording of red coated cattle.

  6. ✤ In 2003 the MGBCS changed the colour description of murray greys, from silver, silver grey, grey, dark grey and dun, to silver, grey and black.

further contributions from members on this topic are welcomed.


lesser known theories


  1. •A book researching the history of cattle stations, including ‘Thologolong’, asserts that there were possibly two shorthorn cows responsible for producing ‘mulberry’ calves, rather than one, and that these cows were circa 1914/15.  (this information is yet to be conformed)

A clipping from a book with some interesting information about the origins of some breeds AND a possible clue about the origins of the Murray Grey colour  perhaps?

Like some science with your history?Check this link for some interesting work on the origins of coat colour in cattle. HERE

"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."

An extract from Helen Sutherlands diary as reproduced on the monument near Thologolong.
Full inscription HERE..

member contributions

Oh Dear, Red Murray Greys, from Donald Monley.