Make it on few acres with miniature cattle
Miniature cattle fit well for the cattle lover with just a few acres of pasture.
If you love cattle, but don't think you can raise them on a small acreage, talk to Dick Gradwohl.
He and his wife, Arlene, run a thriving beef herd of 70 head on 40 acres in Covington, Washington, about 20 miles east of Seattle. There's a difference, though. These aren't the familiar 1,200-pound cows that mosey around pastures or 1,100-pound steers that lumber through feedlots. These miniature cattle are smaller, ranging from 250 pounds to 900 pounds. They're shorter, too, ranging in height between 38 to 46 inches.
As a result, miniature cattle fit well with small acreages. Dick says stocking rates of two 600-pound miniature cows per acre can match two 1,200-pound cows per 5 acres.
He says that miniature cattle convert feed 25% better than their larger counterparts and eat one third as much. The short cell structure of miniature cattle makes for tender beef. Their docile temperament also appeals to folks who don't want to wrestle with larger cattle.
"Big cows can be intimidating, but small animals can be more like a buddy," Dick says.
Small but beefy
The Gradwohls first raised standard size cattle. However, Seattle's suburban sprawl substantially raised the property taxes of the original farm they bought in 1965.
"We started selling off pieces of land to pay the property taxes," says Dick. "As we downsized acres, it occurred to me it would make sense if the cattle were smaller, too." Thus, they established a thriving miniature cattle herd derived from European cattle genetics. They retained the miniature cattle emphasis when they moved to a nearby farm in 1986.
"In England, a 5-acre piece of ground is an estate," says Dick. "They didn't want big cows. They wanted a small animal that was beefy."
Getting started
First, buy from a reputable breeder. "Only buy animals that have a certificate of registration," says Dick. "This will ensure you obtain proper genetics." Next, think about the purpose for which you will use them. Miniature cattle niches include:
- Pet market
- Breeder market
- Show market
- Mini-milker market
- Commercial beef market
- Organic beef market
Be prepared to bring a padded pocketbook, particularly for pets. Some pet cattle breeds -- such as a belted Panda -- sell for between $12,000 and $20,000.
If you're looking to just put some meat on the table, beef breeds do well and cost less. They also can double for pets. Prices for a miniature beef cattle weaned at 4 months can run between $2,500 and $5,500.
Raising miniature cattle is similar to raising larger cattle. You'll need to line up the following when raising them.
1. Fencing
"You want to cross-fence at least three to four separate pastures with gates in between," says Dick. "When grass wears down, you can then rotate them into fresh pastures." An electric wire in the fence's middle can reduce wear and tear from fence-rubbing by cattle.
2. Element protection
"In the summer, provide fresh water and shade," he says. "If you don't have trees for them to get under, you need to have a barn or some other natural structure where they can get shade." A barn can also double for winter shelter.
3. Herd health and nutrition
Keep mineral and salt blocks accessible, along with a protein source like top-quality alfalfa hay. A good veterinarian can help you develop a herd health program.
4. Careful calving
Miniature cows and heifers have a smaller birth canal than their conventional counterparts that can complicate calving. However, sires are smaller, too. A wise step is to match similar-size cows/heifers and bulls at breeding.
5. Machinery
Dick recommends using a small tractor loader for moving hay and other tasks. He also advises owning a harrow for distributing manure.
6. Cleanliness
Miniature cow udders can occasionally become muddy because they are lower to the ground. "We keep the udders clean so the baby can get milk," says Dick. The Gradwohls clean out their barns twice a day and move the manure to a pasture where it rots and ferments. They use a tractor loader to distribute it to pastures where they harrow it into the ground.
Learn more
For more information on miniature cattle:
The International Miniature Cattle Breeders Society and Registry
25204 156th Avenue SE
Covington, WA 98042
Phone: 253/631-1911
E-mail: info@minicattle.com
Web: www.minicattle.com
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katcowger1 wrote:
This is not a horrible site, my mouse button quit working.
2/29/2008 10:39 PM CST
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