What Do You Know About Miniature Cattle? Learn Today

An Introduction to Miniature Cattle

Miniature Cattle that range from 36 to 48 inches in height are smaller than regular cattle that stand up to 62 inches. There are two types of miniature cattle in the world. One is the traditional breed to which Vechur and Kasagarod of Kerala, India, and Dexter of Ireland belong. The other breed is a result of selective breeding. One such breed, Australian Lowline, was born as an unexpected result of a scientific experiment. Some of the miniature cattle display signs of dwarfism and require less feed and space compared to other larger breeds.

As a result, miniature cattle are easy to handle as they do not require strong fencing that damages the pasture land, and the methane amount they produce is minimum. Richard Gradwohl, An American breeder, developed 18 strains of miniature cattle, including Hereford, Galloway, and Holstein. 

According to the Registry Records of the International Miniature Cattle Breeders Society, there are 26 mini cow breeds, but the public recognizes only a handful of breeds. Jersey cows of the original island type in the United States, also known as Miniature Jerseys, weigh around 350kg and stand about 115-120 cm. (You can read a detailed article on Jersey cows by reading Jersey Cow Farming and Importance ) Miniature Zebu is a stock imported to the United States from Sweden, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic that gives rise to small Zebuine cattle. Another small Zebu breed is the Guraghe and Ethiopian Goffa breeds in the Abyssinian Shorthorned Zebu group.

Advantages of Miniature Cows 

As the term suggests, Miniature cows are smaller than usual and may sound unproductive. But today, we will enlighten you on why you must choose miniature cattle without going for regular sized cattle. To clarify, miniature cattle are not entirely different, but regular cattle are bred into a more compact size. As you think right now, miniature cattle cannot produce as much as milk produced by normal-sized cattle. However, they are an intelligent choice in several other aspects. 

Why Do You Need to Adopt a Miniature Cow?

The reasons are simple. 

1. They need comparatively less space
2. They eat and drink less than a regular-sized cow
3. Cheaper in the long run
4. An ideal choice for milk consumption for a family 
5. Produce less waste

Miniature cattle are a lot cheaper in the long run. First, you may worry about the current cost of buying a miniature cow which may cost around $3,500, which is twice the cost of a regular-sized milk cow ($1,400 and $1,800). Anyways spending on a miniature cow is indeed an investment in the future. Due to their smaller size, they need less water, food, and space to live when compared to other usual-sized cows. Unlike them, miniature cattle need smaller pastures to munch on, and you can even put more than one or two miniature cattle in the same ordinary-sized pasture. However, you may ensure they have enough space to walk freely. 

Furthermore, miniature cattle are a better option for families with eco-friendly targets to get milk straight from the source. Compared to large cattle, miniature cattle need less food and produce less waste which is a plus sign for households with limited space to rear a cow. On top of that, the miniature cattle breeds can produce 1 to 1.5 gallons per milking, sufficient for a whole family’s consumption. However, this is less than an ordinary cow producing 6 to 10 gallons of milk daily.

Are Miniature Cows Good Pets?

Indeed. Ability to adopt as a pet is another plus point of miniature cows. They are loveable creatures. They are risk-free animals that can roam with your kids and are much cleaner than most other pets. Your concerns on health and hygiene concerning keeping pets are also essential. The happy news is that miniature cattle do not leave behind a lot less fur; once trained, they can relieve themselves in selected places only.

Their smaller size and comparatively less weight make them less harmful or dangerous to deal with. Owning a Mini Cow or miniature cow is way more interesting than owning a cat or a dog which is common among many pet lovers. Mini cows offer you different experiences you cannot have as a dog or bird owner. As intelligent and loving creatures, you can train them efficiently. Unlike many other pets, mini cows offer you milk and fertilizer other than being friendly companions and good advertisers for your farm by being in the midst of attention.

Miniature Cow Meat

Recently, restaurants have made use of advertising techniques related to miniature cattle. Consequently, miniature cows’ meat is a lot more expensive today. At the same time, increasing upscale restaurants’ demand for luscious and lean meat from grass-fed mini cows is growing daily.

Disadvantages of Miniature Cows

Miniature cattle would not be the best choice for people looking for more milk and cow waste by paying a small amount of money to buy a cow. Besides, they may need smaller barns and specialized expensive equipment like simple brushes, cow halters, and show sticks for them to live. 

The simple brush cleans and untangles mini cow coats, while the cow halter is helpful to lead your cows in the direction you want them to go. Lastly, the show stick is a tool to discipline and train your mini cow. These are the extra things you need for the maintenance of your cow.

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