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Pint-Sized Cows
In small holdings and rolling grasslands across the United States, people are raising miniature pint-sized cows half the size of normal bovines for food. These small compact cows reaching a little above human waist-height and weighing about as much as three men have been selectively bred from a variety of smaller breeds that have existed for centuries.
Mini-cows have become popular for agriculture during the recession as ranchers have downsized to meet higher feed prices. Furthermore, the drive for more efficient and more sustainable farming methods also boosted a switch to miniature cows. According to the International Miniature Cattle Breeds Registry a decade ago there were fewer than 5,000 mini-cows in the US and now there are an estimated 20,000 animals.
The pint-sized cows eat about half as much as a full-sized cow, yet produce up to 75 per cent of superb quality rib-eyes and fillets. As health-conscious Americans wean themselves off huge portions, the mini-cuts of meat command a premium. Additionally, the average mini-cow produces leaner and therefore healthier meat.
Mini-cows can be farmed in mini-cattle breeding businesses. The Sonoma Little Cattle Co set up by Martha Mintun and her partner, Fred Joosse, near Santa Rosa, California now has 14 mini-cows. They have two breeds the Lowline Angus cattle which is good for meat and the American Miniature Jersey cattle which is good for milk. The Jerseys produce about 11 litres of milk a day which is perfect for a “family milk cow”.
These mini cows are easy to rear; they give birth easily and are easy to look after. They also produce more meat per unit of pasture compared to larger normal sized cows. As the young are so small extra fencing is needed to keep newborn calves the size of a large dog from sneaking between the fences.
Miniature cattle farming is catching on in Britain too with families trying to stay ahead of rising food prices. People can buy a cow that stands no taller than a large German shepherd dog for £200 to £2000. Miniature cows keep the grass “mown” and give 9 litres of delicious creamy milk a day that can be drunk unpasteurised. They make endearing family pets which can be kept for years.
The Dexter, a mountain breed from Ireland, is perfect for cattle-keeping on a small scale. With high food prices, they are actually quite an attractive option if you have a large garden and like producing your own food. As long as you’ve got plenty of grass they largely look after themselves and they have a phenomenal reputation for the quality of the beef. They are proving very attractive to families who have a little land and are concerned about factory farming and interested in organic produce. More than 4,100 Dexter cows were registered in 2007 by the Dexter Cattle Society, which monitors the breed - more than double the figure in 2000.
The boom in mini-cows marks a partial return to the days before the industrialization of cattle farming a time when small was beautiful. We can learn a lesson from the wisdom depicted in the classic and one of the most influential books ever published ‘Small is Beautiful’ by E.F. Schumacher. This book is a collection of essays which critique Western economics and globalization indicating that economics and growth should be sustainable, natural resources are finite and all people should be valued. Schumacher’s philosophy is of ‘enoughness’ and that we should appreciate human needs, limitations and the appropriate use of technology plus obtain maximum well-being with the minimum of consumption. His views made him an environmental hero.
After industrialization the size of bovines soared. According to Professor Ron Lemenager, Professor of Animal Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, in the 1960s the average US carcass size was less than 450kg, but that shot up to more than 590kg with imports of bigger breeds for more meat. Affordable refrigeration meant mega-dairies needed cows that produced as much milk as possible.
Since the mini-cows can be reared on a small holding some consumers can raise their own cattle which is the ultimate way of ensuring their food’s origin as healthier, greener lifestyle beckons. As well as providing delicious, leaner meat using less pasture for their return in meat miniature cattle contain higher levels of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids. Should more people farm pint-sized cows in other countries to help the environment and people’s health? What do you think? Have your say. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Add your comment below. Have your say. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Add your comment below. Not a Citizen? Sign up
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