Miniature Cows, raised them, opinions on them?

Is it the goat milk or is it the fact it isnt watered down white stuff grocery stores sell as milk ? Fresh out of the cow milk isnt the same as store bought. True goats wont bring $1000, but then again they don't cost $1000 either. I thought the mini zebu's were really cool. I wanted one for awhile, out west seemed they were 500 or so, here in VA about $1000 and only about 1 herd. Then I saw a couple at the local festival 2 years ago and asked where they got them, evidently the herd was given away as the owners went under and noone wanted them. So as a novelty theyd be cool, but I wouldnt bet the farm on making a killing off them.,

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi...ype=additional

This article has a great overview on the pros to raising miniatures. I don't doubt that the novelty (as in anything) is making things a bit pricey. I'm also not going to bet the farm on them. But I do like the fact that our small family can process one ourself (No way could we do a 900lb steer), they could make it on my small acreage if I do it right, and I could go all organic with them (have an Organic restaurant friend who would be eager to purchase the meat also).
If I wanted milk I would go with a mini for a family, not as much milk, faster to milk, not as hard or dangerous to wrangle, cheaper to feed...

It's not as bad of a fad as say Emu's. If I needed to liquidate I could just sell them for meat, not give them away as pets (maybe he donated those for a write off somehow?). If I don't get into a major registered herd and just focus on meat I think it would work out. Not do all that fancy crud. These are just small cows right?

Maybe figure out how to keep the meat meeting the legal definition of "organic". Keep away from the drugs and steroids, might find a niche market.

My younger son was sensitive to the lactose in cow's milk so when he was about 10 a gal gave me a gal of goat's milk. I mixed it with cow's milk at first so the taste wasn't a shock. He came to like it and the great thing was I could cook anything with milk in it and he didn't suffer the consequences.Goat's milk wasn't available commercially so I bought a nice milking doe who kept us in milk for several years. I too looked into the smaller cattle. It was my understanding the Scottish Highlands thrive on marginal land, not needing the lush pastures of the other breeds.

My dad raises miniature herefords, and so does one of our neighbors down the road. There are a lot of benefits to them, as you have already pointed out. They can be expensive, especially when you get into show quality stock. So besides what you already pointed out for benefits....There is a large market for them for 4H kids, much easier to handle and learn on. We used to have full size herefords, and when it came time to slaughter we did not always have another family to split it with and ended up with way too much meat. These are the perfect size.

I have absolutely no experience with mini cattle. But I would think that a mini steer would yield mini (smaller) cuts of meat and less of it as the carcass is smaller.

But I would think that a mini steer would yield mini (smaller) cuts of meat and less of it as the carcass is smaller.

Make good "sliders"....Oh dear...bad joke. I would have trouble eating something so cute. But then I have a hard time eating something I am personally acquainted with. I'd make a lousy rancher. Love beef but prefer someone else do the dirty deed of doing them in.

The smaller carcas, small cuts, smaller amount in the end is what some people try to push as the benifit.

In the end it costs more for the initial investment, is less food efficient, so the owner will want to sell for more $$ to help get investment back faster.

Easier to raise a full size steer keep 1/2 and sell 1/2 end up with less money tied up in the venture and more beef in the freezer (never have heard of a problem selling 1/4 or 1/2 a beef if raised properly)