The giant, mini and mega-horned cattle breeds yet to find ground in Australia

Australia is one of the largest cattle farming nations in the world with strong beef and dairy industries.

In both, a multitude of cattle breeds are used, depending on landscape and climate, and production requirements.

Typically, Bos taurus cattle such as the Angus and Hereford are bred and run in southern Australia, while Bos indicus breeds such as the Brahman are farmed in the warmer northern half of the country.

The array of breeds in both cattle families can be seen at the country's top agricultural and special cattle shows every year.

Breed popularity and trends have changed over time.

However, there are still some yet to find ground in Australia.

Stock & Land has taken a look at some of the potential new cattle on the block.

Ankole-Watusi

While imported to Australia in small numbers, the Ankole-Watusi cattle breed has not taken off in terms of popularity, partly due to difficulty in managing stock with such impressive horns.

They were held on a number of smallholdings and at zoos but current numbers are unknown.

The breed originated in Africa, specifically Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and was known for its large horns which grow to an impressive 2.4 metres from tip to tip.

Necessary for the conditions in their region of origin, Ankole-Watusi cattle have strong herding instincts and prefer to stay together, often sleeping in a circle with their horns facing outward.

It was understood this herding mechanism came about as herds needed to protect themselves from large African predators.

However, despite their robustness, cattle of the breed can be easily handled once worked with from a young age.

They are well-suited to hot, dry climates and can thrive on basic roughage.

In Africa, they were traditionally kept for milk production and as a symbol of wealth.

They were also raised for meat, which is lean and has lower cholesterol than other commercial beef.

Chianina

Chianina cattle are a breed known for their exceptionally large size, making them one of the largest cattle breeds in the world.

There are a number of small herds in Australia, but numbers remain limited.

The breed was developed in Italy, where they were traditionally used as draught animals.

This role on farms required the cattle to be extremely docile and well-suited to working with people, and this trait has been carried through to the existing cattle today.

As the innovation and spread of the tractor removed the demand for draught cattle, the Chianina was then raised for beef.

Nowadays, the breed is used to inject size and height into cattle herds.

Chianina stock are known for their immense size, with bulls often exceeding 1.5 tonnes and standing nearly two metres tall.

The breed is typically white to grey with black points, but calves are born with a darker, fawn colour which changes as they mature.

Potentially of use in Australian farming, the breed is understood to tolerate heat well and is a good forager.

Mature cattle have small horns.

Nadudana

Nadudana, pronounced as 'Nah-Dah-Nah', are some of the smallest cattle in the world.

The Bos Indicus breed has a name which translates to 'small cattle' in Hindi.

There are a number of breeders of these cattle, with their stock generally originating from some imports from the US.

The Nadudana Association Australia stated that the breed had a "stable gene line reaching back many centuries in the Indian sub-continent".

"Some claim this extends as far back as 6000 BC," it said.

Nadudana cattle were known to be one of the oldest, rarest and truest breeds of small cattle in the world and were unlike more recent miniature stock such as the miniature Highland or the miniature Belted Galloway.

The breed's small size allowed them to be originally kept and bred on temple grounds in their region of origin.

The Nadudana Association Australia said the cattle were a "general-purpose breed that can be used for beef and/ or milk production".

"Whilst you can use them for production, they are perhaps more suited to the hobby farmer," it said.

The Nadudana has a height below 107 centimetres, almost half that of the Chianina, measured at the shoulder at three years of age.

Mature bulls were generally 230-280 kilograms, a fifth of the weight of a Chianina, and mature cows weighed 180-230kg.

Irish Moiled

The Irish Moiled is one of the oldest of the surviving indigenous breeds of Irish cattle and the only surviving domestic livestock native to Northern Ireland.

The myths and legends of Ireland refer many times to 'red, white backed cattle', and polled skeletal remains have been dated to 640 AD.

It was believed that the Vikings raided 'Moillie' cattle from Ireland in around 1000 AD, and today in Scandinavia, you can find hornless cattle with similar colour markings in a breed called the East Finn.

There are very small numbers of the rare breed in Australia, with Derry Duff Irish Moiled Cattle, Ivy Home Farm, Haly Creek, Qld, one of the few, if not the only, operations to keep the cattle.

Stud principals Denis and Theresa Roberts said they were "dedicated to preserving and promoting the extraordinary Irish Moiled cattle breed" for its "first time in Australia".

Ms Roberts first imported the genetics to follow a passion for her family's Irish heritage.

"Ivy Home Farm is deeply committed to upholding the heritage of this remarkable breed and delivering top-quality genetics to customers who truly appreciate its unique qualities," she said.

The Irish Moiled cow is dual-purpose and efficiently converts low-grade food and grass into high milk and meat production.

"The Irish Moiled's adaptability and docile temperament make it a valuable asset for farmers and an excellent choice for breeders alike," Ms Roberts said.

"We strongly believe that this breed has untapped potential in the market."

Belgian Blue

While bred by a small number of studs in Australia, Belgian Blue cattle remain in small numbers.

Originating from central and upper Belgium, the breed is known for its double muscling and extreme physique.

The Australian Belgian Blue Cattle Society said the breed was "currently one of the most important beef breeds in the world".

"Its popularity is based initially on the production of an exceptionally lean, high bone out, high-yielding carcase," they said.

No other breed was known to have the degree of muscling or extreme high carcase yield that the Belgian Blue was selected for.

In its native Belgium, calves were often delivered via cesarean section, but calving ease has improved in recent decades.

The extreme muscling was a result of a mutation of the myostatin gene and resulted in large volumes of red meat and less fat deposit in the carcase.

"They are structurally sound, carry their weight with ease and adapt readily to climatic conditions," the Australian Belgian Blue Cattle Society said.

Belgian Blue cattle range in colour from pure white to black and any degree of blue roan in between.