[4]: 254 [5]: 37 The Murray Grey breed was developed from an initial chance mating of a black Aberdeen Angus bull and a roan Shorthorn cow in 1905 during the Federation drought.

The resulting 13 dun-grey calves from these matings were kept as curiosities and then bred on the Thologolong property along the Murray River in New South Wales by Peter and Ena Sutherland.

[6] These are unusually coloured as they are black, cattle grew quickly, were good converters of feed and produced quality carcases.

The Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society performance records the herd using the internationally recognised Breedplan for monitoring growth, milk, and carcase quality.

Their skin has a dark pigmentation, which helps prevent eye cancer (ocular squamous cell carcinoma), photosensitivity reactions, and sunburned udders.

In this heat stress trial, they outperformed the other trialled breeds by producing the highest average daily weight gains over this period.