We just got our first breeding pair of mini Longhorns. I've raised standard longhorns for 14 years and as we are getting older. we opted for a smaller cow..Since we do all butcher cut and wrap ourselves on property.. DID not want to give up on the beautiful longhorn breed.. AND so far am loving them!.. both our bull and heifer are chondro negative mini longhorns.. Thank you for your video!
I live in Norway, and in Sweden (where I'm from), there is a breed of old heritage mountain cattle that stands only 40" tall, weighs ~300 kg and milks 2+ gallons per day. They're skinnier than the Dexter, which also is more numerous than the native cow, and both breeds are supposedly good for relatively poor feed (grass, hay, grazing the woods). The Dexter is more dual-purpose and popular but I really like the idea of helping preserve our endangered native breed. I might buy a Swedish mountain cow (Fjällnära is the Swedish name, not the same as Fjällko), let her have a couple of purebred calves and sell them to keep the breeding program going, and then crossbreed with Dexter the rest of the time to get beefier calves for butcher. I don't have land yet, so this is far in the future. :D
Thanks so much for sharing. I really appreciate let us know the different and really good option for who wants to start a small cattle farm in North Texas. Again Thank you very much.
I've also read that that "miniature" size jersey cow is the "normal" size, i.e. not a fad at all. Think Elizabethan England were everyone had a family milk cow. It was only after the Industrial Revolution that the "breed 'em big and maximize production" idea took off. I am looking forward to getting a mini jersey this spring.
Sorry your info was not correct ...the mid size came over from the Isle of Jersey Through breeding the " standard" ( name became the norm because of commercial dairy's ) Miniatures began as a cross from Dexter's... Standards, miniatures and Dexters have been around for quite a while I grew up on a Jersey dairy back in the 60s.and 70s and had to do a term paper on the origin of the Jersey breed.
Good points, we have small acreage and therefore focus on lamb and goat production but maybe we could squeeze a couple Aberdeen in... they are great to rotate with small ruminants as the parasites that affect sheep and goats often don’t survive cow digestion.
I just stumbled across this video & the comments were interesting to read. The problem with talking about something "new" or "different", is that if you haven't heard of it or researched it before, you're not generally open to learning because you don't believe anything is possible or true. 99% of standard size cattle of today, did not start off that tall. They were bred for size, the mini to mid size cow was the full size back in the day (homesteaders). But the cattle had to get bigger to keep up with the consumer's demand for more meat & 99 9% of cattle, not even on a homestead, live to be 20 yrs old, because most have a purpose & not everyone has enough land to let everything live out for the cow to die of old age (most by 11-12 yrs old are turned into hamburger). The Aberdeen Angus are good for today's homesteader,, but like with any cow, you need to have the land to sustain them. 2.5 acres is good for a couple cow/calf pairs, but only if it's quality pasture & of course fall & winter will need supplemental feed. Everyone's situation is different & every animal is different. I had a mini jersey bull that we got as a bottle baby, when he turned 3 he got a bit dangerous to where it wasn't safe to keep. His company was 4 Aberdeen cow's, a standard jersey cow (which he was tall enough to breed) & her standard size son & then eventually his son from the jersey & 1 from the Aberdeen (whose a micro mini). I trained him to be lead with a halter & lead rope, come to grain & lift his feet to be trimmed or handled in some way. They make great steaks, ribs, roasts, hamburger. The same cuts as any other cow, just smaller size, no big deal. But as mentioned, docile isn't always automatic, it is something that you want to breed for or keep in your stock, if it's not docile/nice/gentle to be around (& being able to pet it, is not a prerequisite/requirement, just a bonus), it get's ate or sold. But bull's are bull's they are unpredictable, regardless of the size. The cow's (females) are good calvers, if they are old enough to calve (I wouldn't bred them before they're 12 month's old & make sure that 1st time heifers are bred to a low birth weight bull. I don't think they're a fad, but I don't think they're being marketed all that great & some way over priced, trying to get big cattle prices & that's something earned by quality. americanaberdeen.com/ en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Angus www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/7/aberdeen-angus/ Just for some added research. Sorry for jabbering on in an old video.
Thanks so much for this informative video! I'm really doing my research and are definitely subbing to your channel as a go to! Again, thanks for your honesty and the info.
It's cattle... You would still need hay, feed, a steady water supply, and enough grazing land for them... I don't think a back yard alone would cut it, and I would need a stone heart in order to butcher it, which I do not! No, I'll leave Milk and Meat Production to the full-sized animals - and the pros!
Great explanation for why y’all went with the smaller frame cow. I’ll bet y’all use less hay next winter since you are taking care of your pasture soil so well. Hopefully that equals more stockpile. - Alex
Miniature cows are better for families to raise for milk or meat. Basically easier/cheaper to process a while mini vs a whole normal. One freezer vs two ECT..or too milk a gallon or two a day instead of 3-5 which I'd either have to waste or give away) .I'm currently looking for some however I'm finding they are too expensive to purchase to eat...like all for show or hobby right now.
So we are in South Texas and are interested in getting some mini-cows. We travel to East Texas often, we have family in Jacksonville, TX. Do yall sell cows? Would you allows to come look at your setup?
We are about 2 hours from Jacksonville.. And we would be more than happy to show our set up! Just let us know when and we will do our best to make it happen!
A fad? Guess it may depend on your definition of fad. Is the trend passing? I don’t think so. Small bovine are obviously becoming more popular. For the many reasons so well presented by Smith family farms or ranch. Thank you
To decrease the stature of our herd of 8 (longhorns & jerseys), I'd like to get a miniature Galloway bull, but I'm not sure he would be able to ... make it. We've only got 15 acres of pasture, so if the next generation were smaller, it would be a great advantage.
Have you all considered a Dexter for milk instead of the Jersey? We had a Jersey and have now switched to all Dexter's the milk is just as good if not better. Then you have the added benefit that your lowline can breed the Dexter and you will get some amazing beef from that cross. We have had several Angus Dexter crosses and the meat is amazing.
Smith Family Ranch I would agree that it can be hard to find animals some times. However I have found some amazing people in the Dexter world who will help anyone who is truly searching for that perfect addition. That is how we got started. As a matter of fact most of my cows came from out of state and arrangements were made very reasonably. Just a thought. Love the video however where did that Red Sox fear come from? LOL
@@JohnSmithJrVT LOL.. Love my Red Sox!! hahaha I have no doubt there are great people in the Dexter world. I have found that in general when it comes to most anything farming there are fantastic people in every category and most are very helpful. We heard lots of great things about Dexters and still hear great things about them.. who knows maybe they could still end up on our Ranch?
If they aren't making more money from sub-dividing the land into smaller lots, the only other reason to sell it like that, that I can think of, is because it would be easier to sell it off to more people rather than waiting until someone is interested to buy a property like that and hope that it's theirs that the buyer wants. What I'm trying to say is supply and demand.
Good stuff. We’re exploring what animals to bring on the homestead. I’m looking for info on market situation. Are y’all selling steers at the sell barn or to individuals? Just trying to figure out how the market works.
Different stock does do better in different places , talked to a girl in California making good money with mini pigs . What people ran into here was the only market was to " homesteaders and once it was flooded it collapsed price fell to nothing , so they were great for a year or two . Don't fear the bull he should fear you but I think the intimidation is the main perk maybe less feed . I like the mini jersey cows most people can't use all the milk off a big cow anyway
Great video I in SE Alabama originally from DFW, looking to get into raising some cattle. We have 3 acres and so we are looking at minis because we can have more livestock. So, my question is what's the average annual cost to raise a mini cow? That's feed, worming, and so on. What would also be some basic essentials one would need aside from a fence and shade and a feeding area?
Great questions. Hay during the winter time will be your most expensive thing year in and year out. Worming is only done twice a year (thats what we do) and we give an 8 way vaccine once a year. Those cost $50 or so and can get from tractor supply. obviously youll need water as well. We use store bought fly spray as needed throughout the summer as well. Other than that cows are easy and depending on the breed they can be difficult or easier
@@CoffeeCowsNCurls What is the profitability in the minis? Start to finish what is the cost break down. Do you sell to sale barns? Or do you sell privately? What is the typical calf price, feed to grow that calf and then at max weight what is the sale price and profit?
I don't think they're a fad either......... If I had land I'd get a couple just cause they're so darn cute....lol. Thanks for sharing..........take care.
It's me again. What, you live in East Texas and your wearing that! I was looking at Dexter's, but all I get is they taste good, no one will commit to them producing prime beef. I have heard that Aberdeen will produce prime, it that correct?
Yes you can get prime beef from Aberdeen. You’ll need to get the genetics from both sides. Some breeders test for marble and can tell you how they graded out for the bull and cow.
What the hell kind of shirt and hat is that! Do you want me to send you an Astros Shirt? What size do you wear and you have to wear it in a video... By the way, how do the Aberdeen taste? Would you say they give you prime?
Hahaha no need for Astros shirt. Don’t need anymore fire starter. Lol. Aberdeen is basically angus. I don’t have a processor near me to grade meat but mine looked pretty prime to me. Good marbling.
First let me start by saying thank you for your time making this video. I hope they are not a FAD as they have great characteristics for smaller farms and families. A couple things should be clarified though, You should never turn your back on a bull! Especially , the jersey! For anyone looking into getting a mini, mini does NOT mean 100% nice! Never turn your back to a bull, also any cow can carry the dwarfism gene. If looking into a mini, the head should be proportionate to the torso and the legs should NOT be "short". Those would be indicators of crossing with a larger breed that carries the dwarf gene to make it appear mini.
Hey there. Thanks for watching and commenting. You are right on a jersey bull. That is why we dont have a jersey bull.. Our main herd bull we know his temperament. Also not any cow has the dwarf gene. When breeding Fullblood Aberdeens there is no dwarf gene. Do some research on fullblood Aberdeens and you will also find that out.
@@CoffeeCowsNCurls I was not trying to be rude. If I came across that way I am sorry. Though the gene is rare in Aberdeen cattle, it does happen. Also, please be careful turning your back to a bull of any kind. They may be the most loving docile bull on the planet but their temperament can change on a dime. And you shouldn't tell other's, especially newbies, that it is okay to do so. It can be deadly!
@@brandycole1434 No ma'am. Did not take your comment as being rude at all. The dwarf gene is not in the Aberdeen breed IF they are fullblood meaning 100% Aberdeen. Now if they get crossed you are correct. Also, I do not tell anyone to turn the back on any bull. We respect our bull not scared of him. We chose this breed for this specific reason.
@@CoffeeCowsNCurls I am thankful for your ability to homestead. I think many would benefit from your lifestyle and your knowledge. Please, keep showing others the different ways to make life better.
For just one acre I would have 1 female and then you would be able to choose the male genes, by Artificially inseminating, and then sell the calf each year to make up the cost of owning the cow.
I have been around cattle for nearly 50 years. Miniature cattle are a fad. The dwarf gene is not a good thing. Miniature cattle are just preying on people who are new. Smaller frame does not equal docile. Docility has to be bred. Calving ease is also bred. In nearly 50 years, we only had to pull 2.
@@andrewbateman7534 they don’t get that big, I don’t want them to get that big, it makes it harder for me to manage them. I do not have any cows over 20 years old. What you may have does not work for me. Why can’t you be ok with that? Instead of coming on here saying I’m wrong for what I do, I don’t do that to you!
@SmithFamilyRanch if they don't get that big, they aren't practical. For decades, cattle have been bred for particular traits that are used for beef production. Why would they be difficult to manage? I select for docility. My cows are frame score 5/6, weigh around 1,200 lbs., but are very easy to move, etc. Do you not want your cattle to live a long, healthy life? I never said anyone was wrong, I just said miniature cattle are a fad. You said they work for you, but you said they aren't useful for beef (only ground beef), and are short lived from a genetic mutation. Apparently yours aren't very docile if they are not easily managed. So is there anything positive about them? How many do you have on 2.5 acres? Two cows, two calves, and a bull?
So let me re- introduce myself - my name is Darcy I’m a single female with 2.5 acres. 2.5 acres is NOT enough land for a full size cattle. I have 3 cows, my mini jersey Hazel, hazels calf and 1 Aberdeen that I am raising for beef which is why I don’t have any cows over 20 years old. My cows are very docile I can pet and brush them with no problem. All the meat cuts are smaller but that’s perfect for me as I can’t eat big cuts anyway! this is what works for me! And I would appreciate you stop harassing me! I hope you’re happy with the way you treat people who don’t agree with you! You do you, and I’ll do me! Merry Christmas!
