It is important to know what type of miniature cow is best suited to your lifestyle. There are many breeds of mini cows and 10 of them are actually more profitable than standard cows.
These breeds have their own characteristics and they are all different in their own way. They don’t need so much space and more food but have the ability to produce enough milk to take care of a family and sometimes much more. Their diets are about as small as they are. They only eat about 30% of the standard measure of feed.
Here is the list of 10 miniature cow breeds:
1. Miniature Holstein Milk Cow
Miniature Holstein cows are incredibly adorable and provide lots of milk. In case you are looking for a pet cow that can serve as a milk-producing cow, this breed is your best option. Your milk could really make you a profit, enough to replace what you spend on food and a little more.
Fun fact about Holstein cows, they have held the record for milk production in recent years, and the world record was set in 2017 when a Holstein cow produced more than 78,000 pounds of milk in one year.
The average production of a miniature Holstein cow can produce two to three gallons of milk per day. You can milk up to 3 times a day, consistently, for the full 305 days of lactation per year.
Miniature Holstein cows are around 42 inches tall, so they would be considered a good-sized miniature cow. They are cousins, the full-size Holstein stands at around 58 inches tall. Therefore, this miniature breed is considerably more modest.
Miniature Holstein cows are known to be incredibly kind and accommodating. They would make a decent pet for children as they are delicate and easy to handle so it is okay for children to associate with them.
2. Miniature Scottish highlands
Miniature Scottish Highland cows range in height between 27 and 42 inches, so they stay quite miniature. They look like a bear with their long brown hair. Since people remember them for their adoration, these cows can cost up to $6,500.
Despite the fact that they will do quite well in America, they thrive best in environments that resemble their own. Miniature Scottish Highland cows come from the highlands, which are known for their cold and troubled life. They are known to continue long and healthy lives as long as they are properly cared for.
Another unique feature of them is their coat. They have a long, coarse outer coat of hair that rests on a delicate undercoat. It will keep them warmer in the cold weather season when some other breed of cow needs special housing. Also, just like a dog in the summer period, they take off their winter coat so as not to overheat.
Try not to be nervous about its longhorns. This breed of cow is fearless and cannot be terrified so easily. They are pleasant pets as they are very calm and friendly. Also, in the event that you need to breed and start a group of miniature cows, it won’t be overly troublesome with a miniature Scottish Highland.
They can create young as far as possible down to their late youngsters, and when they have them, they become brilliant and defensive guardians.
They don’t eat a lot of food though, they can get a whole parcel free from brush, to say the least. They love to graze and will make sure to keep your territory get out.
3. Miniature Texas Longhorns
Miniature Texas Longhorn breed may seem threatening from the outset, they have a milder and more restrained variant of their older cousin’s attitude. They do not have anxious and disturbing propensities that can once in a while be hazardous.
These miniature monsters can grow to a maximum of 45 inches, however many are kept more modest. Its normal life expectancy is around 10 years, so it is anything but a pet that can grow with your child.
They can weigh between 350 and 800 pounds.
They are generally dynamic during the day and love meandering fields and roll around in the roughage. Like most miniature cows, the miniature Texas Longhorn is extraordinary with children and would make a magnificent pet.
4. Small Lowline Angus
Small Lowline Angus grew up unintentionally. In 1974, an Australian study isolated 85 Angus cows in 3 groups for scientific examination. Towards the end of the exam, they realized that one herd was smaller than the other two and proceeded to specifically breed them. It is the result of this examination, that we have our miniature Lowline Angus.
Due to such demanding and devoted breeding, the Miniature Lowline Angus is probably the smallest cow breed on the planet. They are also the best and calmest types of cows you can find.
The miniature Lowline Angus stands around 43 inches tall and can weigh up to 1,200 pounds. They have that short, solid look about them. They tend to eat less feed and graze more than other cows. To show you an illustration of how much they need to eat, they only need about 33% of the standard measure of feed for most miniature cows.
These sweet miniatures can live anywhere between 12-25 years and can withstand virtually any environment.
The thing about miniature Lowline Angus is that they don’t normally test positive for the “bulldog” gene. In this sense, you would have to worry less about losing a child to this horrendous change, especially if you plan to breed them.
5. Miniature Herefords
The miniature Hereford looks like a white and brown colored adaptation of a miniature Scottish Highland. They are bigger cousins dating back 250 years where their breeding began in Herefordshire, England.
These cows would make decent pets or show animals due to their sweet and lovable personality. They are also an amazing expansion for your cutting and fertilizing equipment, so the benefits of owning one are vast.
Combined with their sweet nature, they definitely eat less feed than most miniature cows. As they eat less, there will be less for you to order and keep an eye on. They remain moderately healthy and can adapt to all environments, so your vet bills will be quite low as well.
These miniature cows can weigh between 700 and 1,000 pounds and can grow to be around 42 inches tall. They reproduce quickly and can start at 2 to 3 years of age. This way, if you plan to reproduce your Herefords in miniature, you can start when they are fully experienced.
6. Miniature Panda Cow
Miniature panda cows are the most expensive breed of miniature cows, yet they are adorable as a catch. They are that expensive because it is so rare to find them. To put it to scale, there are less than 100 Panda cattle on the planet.
Miniature panda cows are bred in Irish Dexter and Belted Galloway and stand around 14 inches tall upon entering the world. These cows are so rare that they have their own exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
Like other small cow breeds, they are adorable and easy to focus on. They would make a decent expansion for any family. Just remember that to get one, you have to turn in up to an incredible $30,000!
7. Jersey Mini Cow
Miniature Jersey cows are incredibly friendly and require less maintenance. They are most popular for their unrivaled milk creation and unadulterated bloodline that can be traced for around 600 years.
Miniature Jersey cows come from a small island off the French coast, and because they were isolated by separation, they are popular for their quality milk.
The miniature Jersey cow will stay around 36 to 42 crawls in height and around 700 pounds in weight. They remain somewhat miniature and must not be bred to get that miniature. This is exactly how these cows are conceived. Therefore, there is no quality monitoring to ensure that they have reduced quality.
Similar to the Panda cow, the Jersey cow is hard to come by. They can be lively when young but regularly become a more developed and adoring companion. They are calm and should be treated regularly as a child.
Due to their thin coating, they cool down if temperatures drop below 50 degrees. So you need to know the weather and make sure to keep them warm when it’s too cold. This is particularly significant in cold weather months as it can cause pressure-related ailments.
8. Zebu Cows also known as Brahman Cows
Zebu cows are perhaps the most seasoned type of small cow. They can be followed right back to 3000 BC from southern India. They are rare in North America, however, they are extremely remarkable as they have fostered a smaller than normal breed all on their own.
It is in the US that they got the name Brahman cows, however, you won’t see them often. Also, in case you do, you may have to tackle quite a significant cost to get one.
These cows look quite similar to the Jersey cow, however, instead of having a level back, they have bumps around the hips and shoulders. They regularly have horns, however, it is impossible to tell how huge they will be with certainty the shape they will take.
Zebu cows have friendly attributes and often make excellent pets. You will see them frequently on occasions such as rodeos or zoological nurseries, but in some cases, they can also be used in ranching.
In the event you choose to keep one as a pet with the added bonus of milk, you could get up to a gallon of milk a day. That could make a decent profit to pay for your food and safe house.
Zebu cows are brought into the world in colors ranging from dark to red or even white. Scaled-down Zebus develop to around 36 to 38 crawls tall, however, you can spot some as miniature as 26 inches. They can build around 200 to 500 pounds and, nicely, moms convey their children for a long time, actually as people.
When dealing with them, you should maintain a decent supply of salt squares and lots of fresh water. They can brush for food during the late months of spring, however, they will need food in the coldest time of year.
Like all other cows, they need food constantly. They are generally nice in warmer climates, so in case you have one in a colder environment, you need to keep them warm.
Zebu cows can live up to 25 years if they are well cared for. However, if you do opt for one, remember that they are typically less expensive when they are children due to the fact that developed zebu often shows potential for profit.
You’ll be taking a look at spending between $500 and $2,000 for a male and around $1,500 to $3,000 for a female zebu. The more modest they are, the more expensive they are overall.
9. Dexter Mini Cow
Dexter cows came from ancient Ireland around 1750. Today in the United States they are very rare to find. They can live up to 20 years and can produce up to 10 calves in their lifetime. They are usually dark, however, from time to time they can be conceived as dull red or brown.
They have horns and to give you a reference they look a lot like Hellboy’s horns from the movie.
However, instead of eating hotcakes and Baby Ruth’s, these miniature Dexter cows live off grass and roughage. In the event that you choose to buy a Dexter cow for its milk, you can even pay for it with grain and pellets.
Keep in mind that with Dexter cows, the more food and fresh water they get, the more milk they will produce. They can produce up to 20 liters of milk a day, which is more than their bigger breed. Its milk is also ideal for making cheese and cream.
These cows should be kept warm in the cold weather period due to their light covers, but they do well in the warm period.
It is important to remember that the more they weigh, the less milk they will produce. That is why it is vital to keep them at a healthy weight. Allowing them to graze for only six hours a day should be sufficient for them.
In the event that you plan to purchase this breed for your milk, you may need to consider purchasing an electric milking machine in light of the fact that its teats may be too miniature to even think about getting a handle for hand drainage.
The Miniature Dexter breed is probably the least reasonable type of cow to consider as a pet because of its horns. They can be excessively dangerous for younger children to be around. In any case, they can be excellent draining cows for any miniature ranch.
10. Miniature Belted Galloway Cow
Miniature Belted Galloway’s is the teddy bear of the mini cows. They are very cute and easy to handle.
These mini cows come from the southwest of Scotland and have a thick coat. In fact, their coat is double-layered and repulses water. They do very well in cooler and more humid environments because of this.
These mini cows are conceived mostly brown in color with a thick white band around their abdomen, however, they can sometimes also come out red or dark.
Miniature Belted Galloway Cow can grow to around 42 inches and can eat any type of foliage they discover upon touching. Miniature Galloway’s horns are normally surveyed, so you won’t have to worry about any threats with that should you choose to get one.
They can live more than 20 years and reproduce for their entire life expectancy, so if it’s children you need, it’s infants you will get. By the time they do have clave, it’s for the most part easy to give birth in light of the fact that children are conceived so small. Moms have strong maternal senses and often produce a large supply of milk for their babies.
Miniature Belted Galloway Cows are sometimes called “the languid man’s dairy cattle” as they are incredibly independent and impervious to disease. However, keep in mind that they need regular immunizations against parasite control to protect against leptospirosis. This is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted to people, so be aware of your vaccination plan.
The miniature Galloway Belted is really submissive and well disposed of. They are exceptionally delicate and would be ideal as a pet for a family with miniature youngsters. Also, like most other smaller than usual cows, they only need a hot wire to keep them on your property.