Lowline Angus were developed in Australia from an Angus herd which was established at the Trangie Research Centre in 1929 to provide quality breeding stock for the NSW (New South Wales) cattle industry.

Trangie's foundation stock were purchased first from Canada, then Canada, the United States and Scotland. They showed successfully at the Sydney Royal Show through the '50s, with 4 champion bulls as well as supreme champion in 1954 & 1955. They closed the herd to outside animals in 1964.

In 1963 the emphasis at Trangie switched to research, and the Australian Meat Research Committee asked them to conduct a project aimed at establishing the role of performance recording in the breeding program of a herd. Equal emphasis was to be given to weight gain and to visual conformation score in the selection of replacement bulls and heifers. The project continued until 1970, pioneering performance testing in Australia, and demonstrating successfully the usefulness of measuring performance in a stud herd.

From 1971 to 1973 trials were conducted using objective measurement and appraisal by experienced stud breeders in the selection of replacement bulls and heifers. The herd was divided into two, with the results indicating that performance testing compared with the assessment of experienced stud breeders assessing growth potential.

The trials which produced the Lowline breed began in 1974, with funding from the Meat Research Corporation, to evaluate selection for growth rate on herd profitability. The aim was to establish whether large or small animals were more efficient converters of grass into meat. The trial continued for 19 years.

The Trangie staff chose one herd selected for high yearling growth rates and another selected for low yearling growth rates, with a randomly selected control group. The herds were called Highline, Lowline and Control Line. Satellite herds were established in Glenn Innes and at Hamilton, to enable climate to be taken into account. The program involved detailed evaluation of weight gain, feed intake, reproductive performance, milk production, carcass yield and quality and structural soundness. Computer print outs showed both Highline and Lowline efficiencies as protein converters much the same.

In 1992 the Glenn Innes herd was dispersed with the sale of 9 bulls, 23 heifers and 7 cows to seven purchasers. These purchasers formed the Australian Lowline Cattle Association, adopting the name Lowline.

In 1993 a complete dispersal sale was held at Glenn Innes, where 20 bulls, 51 heifers and 44 cows were sold for a total of $228,200.

The American Lowline Registry was established in the late 1990's, with membership growing rapidly. Lowline cattle are exhibited at major fairs and shows around the nation, including the National Western Stock Show in Denver.