​​What Is the Slick Gene?

The slick gene is a dominant genetic trait that produces a short, sleek hair coat and smoother skin.
It was first identified in Senepol cattle from the Caribbean, where generations of natural selection for heat tolerance made it one of the most valuable adaptation genes in the world.

When introduced into Angus and Red Angus populations, the slick gene delivers the same advantage — increased cooling ability, higher fertility, and calmer cattle that keep performing when the temperature rises.

Kurra-Wirra was the first stud internationally to put Slick Angus on the map, combining the proven slick gene with data-driven Angus genetics to create an entirely new class of performance cattle.

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Why It Matters

Across Australia and around the world, heat stress costs the beef industry billions every year — through reduced feed intake, slower growth, lower fertility and animal welfare issues.
The slick gene can help directly combats those losses.

Here’s what it delivers:

• Heat Tolerance – Slick-coated cattle maintain body temperature up to 0.5–1°C cooler in hot conditions. They keep eating, keep cycling, and keep growing when others pull up.

• Tick Resistance – The sleek coat and smoother skin make it harder for ticks and flies to attach, reducing parasite load and the need for chemical treatments.

• Fertility – Slick-coated cattle maintain cooler body temperatures and reduce heat strain, which helps preserve reproductive function under stress. In hot conditions, this means cows are more likely to conceive, and bulls are better able to sustain their libido than non-slick counterparts.

• Feed Efficiency – Less energy spent on cooling means more energy available for growth and production.

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How the Gene Works

The slick gene follows a simple dominant inheritance pattern, which makes it easy to breed for and manage.

• Heterozygous Slick (S/N): One copy of the gene. Around 50% of progeny inherit the slick coat.

• Homozygous Slick (S/S): Two copies of the gene. 100% of progeny will be slick-coated, regardless of what they’re bred to.

• Non-Slick (N/N): No copies — normal hair coat.

The beauty of the slick gene is that hetero bulls carry 100% of the heat tolerance advantage themselves — they feel the full benefit.
The only difference is how the gene is passed on to their calves.
So whether you’re using a homo slick sire for certainty, or a hetero slick for flexibility, both deliver the same adaptation and performance under pressure.

Every Kurra-Wirra animal is DNA-tested for slick status, giving clients complete confidence in what they’re buying and breeding.
That lets us strategically build both homo slick lines for guaranteed slick progeny, and high-performance hetero slick sires to complement Angus and Red Angus systems without compromise.

 

​A Global Solution

The slick gene’s relevance stretches far beyond Australia.
From South America and Africa to Canada and Asia, beef and dairy producers are facing the same challenge — keeping cattle productive as temperatures rise.

Kurra-Wirra slick genetics have already been exported to Papua New Guinea and Canada, and the results speak for themselves: cooler cattle, better fertility, and no compromise on carcass quality.

The combination of Angus performance and natural adaptation is creating a new generation of climate-ready beef genetics.

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Kurra-Wirra Leading the Way

Kurra-Wirra has built its reputation on measured performance, structure, and temperament — and we’ve now added a world-leading layer of adaptation.

We were the first to integrate the slick gene into APR-registered Angus programs, bringing credibility and data to a trait that’s transforming northern herds.

Our leading sires — like R140, S385, and P101 — have proven that slick doesn’t mean compromise. They represent the balance of power, performance, and predictability that defines every Kurra-Wirra bull.

Looking ahead, our breeding program is developing slick Angus bulls designed to deliver Angus-type calves over Brahman and Bos indicus cows — black or red-hided, slick-coated, heat-tolerant and highly profitable.

This is real-world adaptation through measurable performance.

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Explore the Future of Beef Performance

Slick Angus isn’t the future — it’s already here, and it’s reshaping how beef is bred in hot climates around the world.

If you’d like to learn how it can fit your program, talk to Simon and the Kurra-Wirra team today or come and see the bulls in person at our Annual Bull Sale in Blackall.