Mini Breeds

[IndianaWoodsman]

I have been looking into smaller cattle breeds and have a couple of questions. Miniature angus, hereford, longhorns, etc - are they a completely seperate breed that just looks like what they are named after or are they bred from smaller genes of their namesake? In other words, would I, at some point, be likely to end up with a normal-sized bunch of cows after much breeding?

Also, temperment etc of the different mini's. Mom wants Scottish Highlands because of their docility, spin-able hair, milk and meat. While all of these things make them desireable, I have not found a breeder of anything other than registered show stock. At this point we are not going into this venture with the idea of doing any kind of shows. We simply want a versatile breed.

[copperhead46]

I'll be the first to speak up for Dexters. The problem with "mini" breeds is that they are breed down from undersized and dwarf animals, and they come up with lots of problems. The main one is that their organs sometimes are not dwarf and will continue to grow and the animal dies a horrible death in a couple of years. I don't know about the Highlands, but the Dexters are a natural breed, not created from substandard stock. I think the Highlands are a great breed too, the Dexter is a good choice for meat and milk. Do lots of research before you buy, make sure it's a breed you really like.
P.J.

[genebo]

There are some nicely bred miniatures out there and there are an awful lot of "Hey, it's small and it looks like a ...." sorts.

It would take a genius to figure out which kind you're looking at. There are even registries made up just for the purpose of registering minis of that type. Useless papers.

Lowline Angus are an example of cattle that were selected from purebred Angus stock, for years and years, until they consistently produced offspring that accurately reproduced the parents.

That's the key to it. How well they can reproduce themselves. I know you've heard that hybrid vegetables won't come true from seed. The seed from the biggest hybrid tomato will most likely grow to make cherry tomatoes. Cattle are the same. Any hybrid is capable of producing an offspring that is way different from the parent. Most of the fancy colors and patterns you see offered in minis are just useful as a "terminal" animal. Enjoy it, but don't expect to reproduce it.

Highland cattle are known as a 3/4 size breed.

Dexters are a naturally small breed. Miniature sized, but not a miniature of any full sized breed.

There are naturally small Angus, Hereford and Jerseys. Good luck in telling the real ones from the hybrids. Even the Lowlines have been hybridized once they were imported to the US, so look out for percentage Lowlines. That's a hybrid that has a Lowline somewhere in it's ancestry.

My own experience with Highlands was that they're not so docile. Mama Highland and her daughter got a pasture to themselves because everyone was afraid to go into the pasture with them, and Mama Highland had a nasty habit of putting holes in the prized red Devon's hide. You're right about the meat. It's pretty good.

Genebo
Paradise Farm