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Mini-Cattle Are New Cash Cow

Downsized breeds are new industry craze

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Sep 24, 2007 10:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Americans may still like their burgers supersized, but the latest rage in the cattle industry is mini-cows. With smaller ranches on the rise, growers are looking for animals that suit a limited acreage. They're often kept as pets or sustainable lawn-mowers that make the rounds at state fairs, but they are also raised for slaughter, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Mini-cows, who weigh in at half to a third as much as the full-size variety, draw twice the price per pound as other steers, one breeder claims. The beef is tender, and consumers like the moderate size of the choice cuts, he said. Miniature Hereford and Angus breeds sell for a pricey $3,500 a head, making breeding lucrative, especially for ranchers who want farm animals without the headache of heavy-duty equipment.

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Some attribute the ease of domesticating miniature cattle to their stature. "They think that since they're looking up at you, they have to do what you tell 'em," said one breeder. (KRT Photos)

A miniature bull lacks the stature, if not the attitude, of his larger cousins. (KRT Photos)

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Mini-Cattle Are New Cash Cow