MINIATURE CATTLE BASICS
So, why do you want miniature cattle?
First and foremost, they’re just so dang adorable!
Miniature cattle are the perfect animals for family homesteads and small acreage farms. They require one-half to one-third the feed of standard size animals. Because of their small size, miniature cattle can be handled easily and efficiently. While they could be called “pets”, they are still classified as livestock with multiple purposes (beef, dairy, companionship, etc.). If you are familiar with full-sized cattle, you will find that the basics are not very different!
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MALE OR FEMALE: WHICH IS BETTER?
This question is one of the top 3 we get asked by those who are new to cattle. Here’s the short answer: For breeding purposes, females and intact males. For disposition/companionship: steers (neutered males) are the gold standard, but females can have wonderful personalities as well.
We do NOT recommend having an intact bull for the purpose of social interactions with humans!
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HOW MANY DO I NEED?
Cattle are herd animals by nature. This means that they enjoy and perform best in the company of other animals, especially other cattle. We recommend having at least two cattle if possible.
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FEED & NUTRITION-WHAT DO THEY EAT?
A proper feed and nutrition plan are a necessary part of owning any animal, especially cattle! This includes securing enough hay to feed during the cold winter months when grazing on pasture is not an option. Cattle are ruminants-this means they require grass, hay or another kind of roughage as a primary source of food. Depending on the nutritional requirements of your herd, supplemental feeds such as grains or corn can be used in addition to forage
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DO THEY REALLY NEED SUPPLEMENTS?
Whether miniature or full-sized, cattle have specific nutritional requirements in order to function at their full potential. Just like humans, cattle need special vitamins and minerals that can only be supplied by supplementation. Proper and balanced minerals suited for your region are a must-have! We feed free-choice loose mineral in a salt feeder and allow constant access to a trace mineral salt block. A local extension agent or veterinarian can help you determine the supplementation requirements of your region based on soil testing.
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MEDICATIONS & HERD HEALTH
As with any other companion or farm animal, proper veterinary care is a must-have! We recommend having a trusted veterinarian to consult if you have herd health issues or medication questions! A large animal veterinarian will also have information and guidance for developing a vaccination regimen for your herd, which we highly recommend.
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DO THEY NEED SHELTER?
We advise that you have a shelter or sheltered area (barn, wind block or run-in shed) for your animals to be protected from the elements. Our herds have the option of being inside barns if they desire additional protection from the weather. While they are “indoor sized” as calves, they WILL grow. We recommend keeping them outside of the house.
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DO I NEED SPECIAL FENCING?
We use many different types of fencing on our farm including barbed wire, woven wire, wooden board, cattle panels and electric. All work well, but our favorite is a mixture of woven wire or board and barbed wire. Electric fencing is a great option for temporary or movable fencing, or when used in addition to another type of fence. The best type of fencing is the kind that contains your herd and works best for you!
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DO THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT?
Proper equipment to contain, immobilize and secure animals for safety and medical treatment is also advised. We use the same equipment for our miniature cattle that we use for our full-sized cattle (gates, corrals and head catch/chute).
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You can find more detailed information about the basics of miniature cattle in the link below.
SO, HOW SMALL ARE THEY?
HEIGHT GUIDELINES
SIZE & HEIGHT GUIDELINES
Mid-Sized Miniature: 42-48”
Miniature: <42”
Micro Miniature: <36”
Miniature, Mid-sized and Micro miniature cattle are classified based on their size. “True” miniature cattle are 42 inches tall or less at the top of their hip at maturity. Many factors such as breed, nutrition, lineage and age will affect an animal’s height. The age at which measurements are taken is also very important. An animal’s height at 6 months of age will be very different from their height at 3 years of age.
The other very important factor that will affect an animal’s mature height is the presence of the chondrodysplasia (chondro) gene. This is a very important status to know if you plan on breeding animals who are potentially positive for the gene.
You can find more information about chondrodysplasia and the chondro gene in the link below.
HIP HEIGHT
Some breeders measure the height of their animals at the hook bone. Many measure their cattle to the top of their hip area, as this gives a true and reliable height measurement. All measurements listed on our animals are based upon HIP height!
