Miniature Cattle

I have a miniature Jersey/Lowline cross, who is my sweet little princess. She's 33" tall right now, and 1 1/2 years old. We just got the call today that her 'boyfriend' is ready to come home with us. He is also Jersey/Lowline cross, but reversed (she is mostly Jersey, he is mostly Lowline). We chose this combination so we will get good calves, no matter what. If she has a heifer - the Jersey makes for a great milker. If she has a bull (to be quickly converted to a steer), we get a freezer full of Black Angus beef!
Mini cows can be kept 4 per acre; they require 30% of the food of a standard cow, but provide 70% of the meat; a mini milker provides 50-75% of the milk of her full size counterpart. Can you tell I'm geeked about miniature cattle?!!

 

Beeorganic & Sundancers, The cost of these cattle varies greatly. I once saw an amazing Charlevoix bull (As far as I know, the Charlevoix breed is still only full size, just saying cost can be exorbitant - big or small). He was massive, and solid muscle. I asked how much a calf from him would run. Got one of those 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' answers. Do you absolutely have to have a 5 star lineage? If so, you probably must have a 'pure' animal. I saw online, a pure animal with fancy lineage for $35,000! My baby girl is not 'pure', but she can be registered (we are waiting - she needs to be 3 years old to take a true height. If she stays under 36"-or 38, I can't remember which, she can be registered as a micro-mini, and her calves will be more valuable). The miniature cattle market is still in it's infancy in this country, so costs presently reflect that. Dexters are somewhat cheaper, are usually about the same size (about 42" fully grown) and are a great option. I jumped at the chance to buy Ice Cream (my princess), because she can give me 2-3 gallons of 4% butterfat milk per day, she's a great lawn mower/fertilizer who doesn't damage the turf, and she needed me (she was sick, and I nursed her back to health).
Keith, I do have pictures, but my computer and/or IP has decided lately not to let me upload anything If I can get the thing to cooperate, I would gladly show her off

 

Agreed. A full size Jersey HAD been my plan. I was lucky to get my girl at a great price for my area. DH and I calculated it out though, under 1/3 the feed, for the life of the animal, more than makes up for the up front investment - without even taking into consideration the sale of any heifer calves. For our needs/wants/land size, miniatures were the smartest option.

 

Sorry this has taken so long to post. Life, as they say, got in the way!
Ice Cream on the left. Ferdinand the Bull on the right. No calves yet, but I've got my fingers crossed for one come Spring!

 

Apyl,
Ice Cream is 34 inches tall. Ferdi is 36 inches tall. I admit to needing to put them both on a diet though - they are both almost as wide as they are tall!