Miniature Hereford Cattle Breed: Facts

Miniature Hereford Cattle look just like standard Hereford Cattle, they have the white face and are red with white under markings. They are even polled or horned. They are not, however, dwarf cattle, they are miniatures. Registered Miniature Hereford Cattle descend from bloodlines of Herefords that are certified dwarf - free.

The first Miniature Hereford Cattle breeding stock sold in 1989 by Point of Rocks Ranch in Fort Davis, Texas. Point of Rocks Ranch developed the breed, beginning in 1970, using five cows and one bull. This small herd is the foundation for today's Miniature Hereford Cattle, which has mature bulls that average 43 inches tall at the hips and average 1000 pounds, mature cows that are 40 inches tall at the hip and weigh an average of 720 pounds. The average birth weight is 30 pounds and the average weaning weight is 400 pounds. The carcass yield is an average of 66% and slaughter steers average 700 pounds. The overall confirmation for Miniature Herefords is "low-line that is low to the ground with a broad stance, bone structure that is adequate to carry the weight.

Miniature Herefords are rated on a frame chart scale. This frame chart uses the animals size and age and scores it accordingly. The scores begin with 0000 which would be the smallest, the next largest size is 000, then 00 followed by 0, 1, 2 and 3. Anything less than a 3 is a miniature.

The reasons for having and raising Miniature Herefords varies, according to owner or breeder. But there are six reasons that everyone can agree on. These are less feed required by Miniature Herefords, they make less mess or less harm to the environment especially disturbing the grass or around the water trough, they have a shorter muscle length that is believed to make meat more tender and they produce steaks that are the perfect serving size. Miniature Herefords are also perfect because of their size and they have a docile temperament. The last reason may be the most important to some people, it is just because they like them.

Miniature Herefords are a real breed of cattle. These red and white beauties are registered with the American Hereford Association and in order for a calf to be registered its owner must be a member of the American Hereford Association and its parents must be registered. Through this registeration there is proof that they are indeed miniatures and the pedigree that they become part of lists the size of the ancestors of that particular animal, providing more proof of them being Miniature Herefords.