![]() “What are your farm goals?” is the first question Kelly Furness asks prospective clients. They also sell miniature donkeys.Ĭolin is British and Kelly is a native Floridian, so they started with Herefords (a British breed) and Florida Cracker c attle. ![]() They specialize in registered mini Herefords, mini Pandas, Belted Galloways and Black Baldies. Each breed checks different boxes, so you have to know which boxes you want to check.”Ĭolin and Kelly Furness of FLIP LLC, have been b reeding and selling miniature beef cattle at their Idlewild Ranch in Central Florida for more than two decades. Then do research as to what breeds meet those goals. “But ultimately, you need to sit down and decide your goals: If you just want a cute pet, a meat breed or family milk cow. “Honestly, that’s the reason we bought our first Scottish Highlands. ![]() “There’s nothing wrong with buying a cow because it’s cute,” Yoder says. Zeroing in on what you want to do with cattle will help narrow breed choices. Read more: Not mini but naturally small cattle, Dexters pack value into a small frame. “They cause much less wear and tear on land than full-size cattle.” “Most people don’t want a 2,000-pound cow on their 5-acre tract, so the idea of mini cattle for meat and milk is growing in popularity,” says Ben Yoder, who raises Scottish Highlands, a dual-purpose breed used for milk and meat. A miniature beef cow can provide enough meat to feed a family of four for months. They also have the reputation of being docile and easy-going.Ĭertainly, many people buy mini cattle as pets, but their popularity is also practical.Ī miniature milking breed, like a Jersey or Scottish Highland, can produce 1 to 1 1/2 gallons of milk per day. Here they breed and sell micro and miniature Scottish Highland Cattle.īecause miniature cattle are just 1⁄2 to 1⁄3 the size of full-size cattle, they are less threatening and intimidating for people just starting out homesteading or hobby farming. Together with his family, Gradwohl developed more than 18 trademarked breeds of miniature cattle.Īfter Gradwohl’s death, the registry was purchased by Ben and Melanie Yoder, who also own Cyrus Ridge Farm in Augusta County, Virginia. The registry was founded in 1989 by Richard Gradwohl. The International Miniature Cattle Breeders Registry is the world’s oldest and largest registry of miniature cattle. Miniature cattle are the result of generations of selective breeding and choosing selected genetics to reduce size, while promoting the best breed qualities, conformation and temperament.Īlthough miniatures can be registered, many aren’t purebreds but are crossbreds, a mixture of genetics from different breeds to create the desired size and appearance. The pandemic only accelerated this trend.Ī common misconception is that miniature cattle are simply stunted or malnourished full-size cows. Fueling the movement is the expansion of the homesteading community and the goal of being self-sustaining. ![]() The United States has seen a huge surge in the popularity of miniature cattle. People who never fancied themselves livestock owners are finding themselves fascinated with tiny cows. ![]()
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