Why Miniature Herefords?

● High fertility, early maturing, excellent feed converters, easy keepers, and very gentle in nature
● Thick, deep bodied, short-legged, muscular, and chunky in appearance
●Excellent for small properties, since 2 to 3 animals may be kept instead of one standard size animal
● Excellent show animals or children’s 4-H or FFA projects because of natural gentleness and smaller size
● Better than standard animals in cow/calf weaning ratio, rib eye area per 100# weight, and dressing percentage
● Allow for agricultural tax exemptions for lower taxes
● Hardy and adaptable to many climates from cold snowy North to the hot South or dry Southwest
● Ideal for retired folks who may want cattle as a hobby, pet, secondary income or full-time business

Size:

● Frame 0 or less (45” and smaller)
● Smaller size makes them easy to handle
● Mature three-year-cow can weigh between 500 and 1,000 pounds
● Compare to standard mature cow which is 50” to 60” tall and weighs 1,200 to 2,000 pounds
● These small animals are what many old-timers raised 40 years ago

Registry:

● The American Hereford Association is the official registry for Miniature Herefords
● A certificate of registration from the American Hereford Association is required
● True Miniature Herefords registered through the AHA have pedigrees going back over 100 years and determined to be free of dwarfism
● This registration is very important and beneficial to insure the purity of bloodlines and predictability of offspring

Care:

● The bovine is one of the easiest of all animals to care for. A small bovine makes it even easier.
● Plenty of grass, water, and salt available meets most of their needs
● Miniature Herefords are a very hearty animal and do well in most areas.
● Keeping vaccinations current and worming are also important
● If a veterinarian is necessary, any large animal vet can treat them.

Nutrition:

● No special feed is necessary for minis.
● Minis are very efficient feed converters and depending on pasture, you can run 2 to 3 head to one standard size animal
● Nutritional needs may very based on location but good pasture or quality hay, a salt/trace mineral supplement, and clean water for the most part is all that is required

Reproduction:

● Heifers are bred to calve to at 2 to 3 years of age
● Bulls are ready to go to work by 1-1 ½ years old
● Minis have very little difficulty calving
● Calf birth weights average 45 to 60 pounds
● Cows are good mothers with plenty of milk
● Both cows and bulls are fertile and breed back in a timely manner

Equipment:

● Heavy-duty fencing and equipment aren’t necessary; a quality fence and shelter are adequate
● A squeeze chute is also useful

Disposition:

● Herefords have always been known for their docile temperament and the miniatures are no exception
● Their smaller size makes them even easier to handle