You probably already realized There are several valid reasons for wanting to your own cow.
Why use heirloom cows? To realize why heirloom cows are a great idea, compare them to their modern counterparts.- Easier to handle with size
- More docile and intelligent
- Not as susceptible to disease
- Higher quality meat
- More milk/meat for feed input.
- Forage for feed
- Lacks the A protein that causes bloating
Larger breeds are modern breeds; with the exception of a few breeds breed for labor(1). Mini cows were just cows, as late as, the 20th century. Ranchers wanted to breed larger cows because it meant more money, come market time. Larger stock meant breeding larger cows and bulls.
Mini cows eat 1/3 of the feed of a modern cow (2). The add bonus is that heirloom cows make 20-30% meat for the feed they eat (3). You can feed your family of four for up to six months, with one miniature beef (4). Their is is less fat on heirloom cows as they forage for food. Goats have a similar diet; mini Betsy eats what other livestock would considered weeds. Mini Betsy can live on forage alone according to Countryside Contributor (5). If you are using forage alone the cows will need about 1.5 acres per cow (6). Other miniature cows owners state one acre per cow; obviously, this will depend on the type of feed and lushness of the land.
While, high producing dairy cows can; in the short run produce more milk, mini Betsy is in for the long haul (7). Betsy will calf produce a small calf every year; that does not need as much milk (8). So Mini the mini cow will be able to be milked longer and produce more calves for years longer; than their modern dairy counterparts. A mini Jersey for example; will produce 1.5 gallons of milk. The average person's milk consumption in 2005 was 20.4 gallons(9). This means four people would drink a 1.5 gallons a week.
Click here to see the dairy break down.
1) "Selecting Cattle For Your Small Farm - Countryside Magazine." 2015. 6 Jul. 2015
2) "How Now, Tiny Cow? On Raising Small Cows - Hobby Farms." 2007. 5 Jul. 2015 <http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/raising-small-cows-15001.aspx>
3) "10 Miniature Cattle Breeds for Your Small Farm | Grameen ..." 2015. 5 Jul. 2015 <http://www.grameen-info.org/10-miniature-cattle-breeds-for-your-small-farm/>
4) "10 Miniature Cattle Breeds for Your Small Farm | Grameen ..." 2015. 5 Jul. 2015 <http://www.grameen-info.org/10-miniature-cattle-breeds-for-your-small-farm/>
5) "Selecting Cattle For Your Small Farm - Countryside Magazine." 2015. 6 Jul. 2015 <http://www.countrysidemag.com/91-3-heather-smith-thomas-2/>
6) "Miniature Cattle FAQ - Miniature Cattle." 2012. 9 Jul. 2015 <http://www.miniaturecattle.com.au/faq.html>
7) "Selecting Cattle For Your Small Farm - Countryside Magazine." 2015. 6 Jul. 2015 <http://www.countrysidemag.com/91-3-heather-smith-thomas-2/>
8) "Raise Small-breed Milk Cows - Mother Earth News." 2013. 6 Jul. 2015 <http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/small-breed-milk-cows.aspx>
9) "By The Numbers: What Americans Drink In A Year." 2011. 6 Jul. 2015 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/27/americans-soda-beer_n_885340.html>
