Miniature cattle

Does anyone on here have any? Looks kind of interesting raising these.

Vito

Take some miniature cattle to regular livestock auction then compare what they brought per pound vs regular sized cattle & I'LL BET YOU'LL lose some interest. Miniature cattle will bring significantly less per #. I find it difficult to comprehend the number of miniature cattle people own & are listed for sale on local Craigslist

They are pets more or less. Its like the ostrich deal in the 90s, the only real value in them is selling to people that think they have comercial value. It doesn t take long to run out of those customers. The only other market is selling them as freezer beef, some people like the smaller amount of freezer space needed. To try and raise them as commercial cattle to sell at weaning will run a person out of money pretty quick. And keep in mind just because they are smaller doesn t mean they are easier to deal with. You still need the same facilities and equipment.

I should mention this would be a hobby type thing , not a commercial operation as I have only a couple of acres to play with.

Vito

My Daughter and Son-in-Law raise mini Herefords. About 3/4 size.

Seems like when it comes to exotics (if these things qualify), there is only money to be made during a boom. A boom being, a time frame when everybody and thier dog wants one. And those time frames are pretty short lived. And the money to be made is not buying during the boom. The real money to be made is having something like this before a boom, and reproducing and selling during that boom. If you wait till there is a boom, and then buy in to get in on the action, you'll be one of the suckers buying in at the high, and miss out on most of the boom to capitalize, because these types of booms are so short lived.
This has happened to alot of stuff in the past. Pot bellied pigs, miniature horses, the list goes on. Seems like a boom comes about, they are the thing to have for a short while, and then after the boom, you can't give them away.

I think of it in terms of, a lot like raising dogs (selling pups). You get into the right breed, at the right time, and be lucky enough to hit a boom, you can make a lot of money. But if no boom for the breeds you have, your just raising dogs.

Some people in town have some miniature cattle. Well, ... I call them miniature. Not sure they qualify. They look full grown but are only about half size. Not sure who those people are, or where they bought em at. They got em in a pen about as big as a city block on the edge of town. Some guy used to put a couple full sized horses or cows in there, but this year these miniatures showed up.

My 2 cents.
P.S. I got full sized beef cattle, and don't plan on venturing into the miniatures.

Raising miniature cattle is another example of people working to waste money.

Remember the Emu bust? Just gotta be careful what you invest your money in. There was a time when Emu cost around a $grand each. Now I think the owners pay you $10 to take them off their hands. Ha Ha. Just pulling your leg. Wingnut

Get some meat goats,easier to handle than cattle and are bringing 2 or 3 times per pound what cattle will bring in the market and the price isn't going to drop on them like cattle whole different market.Hair sheep are pretty good too,better than cattle.

some do it for ag exemption.

TF,

Dont you raise meat goats? I would need a mentor on this one.

Vito

(quoted from post at 12:15:18 09/18/22) Raising miniature cattle is another example of people working to waste money.

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Yea but it is a whole lot healthier then working for money to spend on.....
Women
Beer/booze
Tobacco products
Aftermarket vehicle mods
Look at me housing
etc.
etc.

Wouldnt miniature cattle as miniature horses be more of a hobby than a cash endeavor.

Sorry, should have read all the replies before responding. Id like a couple burros, Pedro and Maria rather than horses. Just because!

Been raising them about 25 years.I have Kiko crosses pretty much trouble free.

There are people making money with both and people losing money with full size stock.

(quoted from post at 11:34:04 09/18/22) Remember the Emu bust? Just gotta be careful what you invest your money in. There was a time when Emu cost around a $grand each. Now I think the owners pay you $10 to take them off their hands. Ha Ha. Just pulling your leg. Wingnut

Click to expand...

mu came to neighboring farm ~ 15 years ago & wouldn't leave. His son finally used rifle to feed it to buzzards

Another way to diet, miniature steaks, miniature burgers, miniature roasts.