In 1974 an investigation of the correlation between growth rate and profitability, and of whether feed conversion efficiency was higher in large or in small animals fed on grass, was begun.

[5]: 3 In the study, three separate herds were established: one of animals with a high rate of growth in their first year, one with animals that had shown low growth, and one randomly selected as a control group.

The Low Line herd started with 85 cows and some young bulls, and was closed to additions of other stock from 1974;[5]: 3  it eventually numbered more than 400.

[6] To exclude possible effects of climate from the study, some stock was reared at Glen Innes in northern New South Wales and at Hamilton, Victoria.

[8]: 18 Compared to larger cattle, the Lowline does less damage to pasture land, and does not need such high or strong fencing.