Characteristics and Benefits:

◊ High fertility, early maturing, excellent feed converters, easy keepers, and very gentle in nature

◊ Thick, deep-bodied, short-legged, muscular, and chunky in appearance

◊ Excellent for small properties, since 2 to 3 animals may be kept instead of one standard animal

◊ Excellent show animals or children’s 4-H or FFA projects because of natural gentleness and smaller size

◊ Better than standard animals in cow/calf weaning ratio, rib eye area per 100 weight, & dressing percentage

◊ Allow for agriculture tax exemptions for lower property taxes

◊ Hardy and adaptable to many climates from cold Canada, to humid East, to hot South, & dry Southwest

◊ Ideal for retired folks who may want cattle as a hobby, pet, secondary income, or full-time business

◊ Size: Frame 1 or less (Cows: 45″ and smaller; Bulls: 48″ and smaller) The smaller size makes them easy to handle. A mature three-year-old cow can weigh between 500 and 1,000 pounds depending on flesh condition. Compare this to the standard mature cow which is 50″ to 60″ tall and weighs 1,200 to 2,000 pounds.  The small animals are what many of the old-timers will tell you were raised 40 years ago, before breeding for the feedlots that resulted in the tall, long-legged bovine of today.

◊ Registry: The American Hereford Association is the official registry for Miniature Herefords. A certificate of registration from the American Hereford Association is required. True Miniature Herefords registered through the AHA have pedigrees going back over 100 years and are determined to be free of dwarfism. This is very important and beneficial to insure the purity of bloodlines and predictability of offspring.

◊ Care: The bovine is one of the easiest of all animals to take care of. A small bovine makes it even easier. As long as they have plenty of grass, water, and salt available, most of their needs are met. Of course, environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, terrain, etc. vary greatly, but the Miniature Herefords are very hardy animals and do well in most areas. Keeping them current on vaccinations and worming is also important. If a veterinarian is necessary, any large animal vet can treat them. .

◊ Nutrition: No special feed is necessary for the Minis. Nutritional needs can vary from one area to the next, but good pasture or quality grass hay, a salt/trace mineral supplement, and clean water are for the most part all that is required. The Minis are very efficient feed converters and, depending on pasture, you can run 2 to 3 head to one standard-size animal.

◊ Reproduction: Heifers are bred to calve at 2 to 3 years of age. Bulls are ready to go to work by 1-1/2years old. We have found the Minis to have very little difficulty calving. Calf birth weights average 45 to 60 lbs. The cows are good mothers with plenty of milk. Both cows and bulls are fertile and breed back in a timely manner.

◊ Equipment: Heavy-duty fencing and equipment aren’t necessary. Just a quality fence and shelter are adequate. A squeeze chute or head gate is also helpful.

◊ Disposition: Herefords have always been known for their docile temperament, and the miniatures are no exception. In fact, their smaller size makes them even easier to work with.