Mini Cattle

[renegade]

I was sitting here watching TV and this thing came on about a guy who raises mini cattle. He owns happy mountain ranch and it is the largest mini ranch (mini animals) in the world. He had mainly belted galloways it looked like and they were very nice looking animals. The parts i though were funny .... he turned down $75,000 on a bull calf, he sends cattle all the way to south africa, a lady in texas that he sells to feeds her cattle in her house (in the kitchen), and women are his biggest buyers so they can have them as pets

 

[dori36]

I was sitting here watching TV and this thing came on about a guy who raises mini cattle. He owns happy mountain ranch and it is the largest mini ranch (mini animals) in the world. He had mainly belted galloways it looked like and they were very nice looking animals. The parts i though were funny .... he turned down $75,000 on a bull calf, he sends cattle all the way to south africa, a lady in texas that he sells to feeds her cattle in her house (in the kitchen), and women are his biggest buyers so they can have them as pets

That was probably  Richard Gradwohl  from Washington.  He is "Professor Emeritus" in the field of Marketing.  He has "invented" many, many miniature breeds and trademarks each one as he determines a name for it.  Those belted cattle are probably part of his "Panda Cattle" herd.  He uses many different existing small breeds (Lowlines, Derxters, etc.) along with  Herefords, Holsteins, Jerseys, Galloways, etc.,  in crossbreeding programs to come up with his "new" breeds .  I'm not sure most of them breed true, in general.  You could learn tons about him on his website.  Google Happy Mountain or Richard Gradwohl, or Minitaure Cattle Association.

 

[aj]

Could mini cattle be viable if corn hits 6 bucks.You wouldn't need big equipment to feed them, smaller corrals, and on and on. Wonder what a mature cow would weigh? You could shiskabob the ribeye. Would jackrabbits chase the cattle around instead of the other way? In the burbs everyone would have one to keep down the grass instead of a lawnmower.

 

[dori36]

Could mini cattle be viable if corn hits 6 bucks.You wouldn't need big equipment to feed them, smaller corrals, and on and on. Wonder what a mature cow would weigh? You could shiskabob the ribeye. Would jackrabbits chase the cattle around instead of the other way? In the burbs everyone would have one to keep down the grass instead of a lawnmower.

Not sure if your response is tongue-in-cheek or not but there is a significant difference between the viable, smaller cattle, like Lowines, and the really tiny, non-functional cattle that are probably best being backyard pets.  To each his/her own.  I can tell you that in the commercial cattle world, where specialty beef  is being raised, Lowlines have a very important role.  Bred to commercial beef cows, Lowline bulls contribute low birth weights, tremendous growth, easy/fast finishing with a well marbled carcass, and lower imputs.  Most  Lowline steers out of Angus, Hereford or other beef cows finish around 1000 pounds with almost no concentrate.  And hybrid vigor?  These crossbred calves wrote the book on it!

 

[garybob]

Could mini cattle be viable if corn hits 6 bucks.You wouldn't need big equipment to feed them, smaller corrals, and on and on. Wonder what a mature cow would weigh? You could shiskabob the ribeye. Would jackrabbits chase the cattle around instead of the other way? In the burbs everyone would have one to keep down the grass instead of a lawnmower.

Not sure if your response is tongue-in-cheek or not but there is a significant difference between the viable, smaller cattle, like Lowines, and the really tiny, non-functional cattle that are probably best being backyard pets.  To each his/her own.  I can tell you that in the commercial cattle world, where specialty beef  is being raised, Lowlines have a very important role.  Bred to commercial beef cows, Lowline bulls contribute low birth weights, tremendous growth, easy/fast finishing with a well marbled carcass, and lower imputs.  Most  Lowline steers out of Angus, Hereford or other beef cows finish around 1000 pounds with almost no concentrate.  And hybrid vigor?  These crossbred calves wrote the book on it!

Do they have enough pelvic area, when the time comes to push the envelope, and, breed 'em to a growth bull?

 

[Turkey Creek Ranch]

Could mini cattle be viable if corn hits 6 bucks.You wouldn't need big equipment to feed them, smaller corrals, and on and on. Wonder what a mature cow would weigh? You could shiskabob the ribeye. Would jackrabbits chase the cattle around instead of the other way? In the burbs everyone would have one to keep down the grass instead of a lawnmower.

If corn hits $6. My family and i wont have to do anything lol. We would be rollin in gold. We farm over 10,000 acres of corn and soybeans.

 

[aj]

Maybe 3 people in the world agree with me but I sometimes think a frame score 5 cow is as big as we need. 6 dollar corn would destroy the livestock industry I would think. There would be alot of grass fat cattle around and alot of backgrounding programs.jmo

 

[Turkey Creek Ranch]

I do agree with you that high corn prices have the potential to hurt the livestock market. But, imo, i dont think the livestock industry could ever destroy the livestock market, as in completely end it. There are WAY to many head strong people out there for that to happen. Another thing to think about, there are always feed sources out there that we have not yet began using as much as needed.

If corn prices do get that high, along with high soybean prices maybe more grains and feed options need to be explored.

Not many people feed wheat, or milo to their cattle. We bale a couple small area's of grass for hay. Then there is the distillers grains coming from the ethanol industry, along with corn stubble and trash.

I guess what i am saying, there are many options out there that may be good ideas if prices do increase to a point where you can not make a profit.

 

[dori36]

<<Do they have enough pelvic area, when the time comes to push the envelope, and, breed 'em to a growth bull?>>

Most people using Lowline genetics in commercial applications are breeding fulll sized cows to Lowline bulls rather than Lowline cows to fullsized bulls.  On fullsized heifers covered by Lowline bulls, it's a marriage made in heaven for calf weights.  No worry about pelvic size!  I don't know why anyone would go the fullsized bull route on Lowline females!  I've seen a couple of "oops's" where Lowline cows did get bred to fullsized bulls.  Most did have the calves successfully, but I sure wouldn't go that way.

 

[AAOK]

Could mini cattle be viable if corn hits 6 bucks.You wouldn't need big equipment to feed them, smaller corrals, and on and on. Wonder what a mature cow would weigh? You could shiskabob the ribeye. Would jackrabbits chase the cattle around instead of the other way? In the burbs everyone would have one to keep down the grass instead of a lawnmower.

Here is another alternative to produce cheaper red meat.  Stop thinking one offspring every year, and consider liters.

According to numerous reports from news organizations and animal rights groups, St. Bernard dogs are being used to interbreed with Chinese dog lines to produce meat dogs.  A BBC report from February 6, 2001, says dog meat is a delicacy in China and that a Swiss group called on the Swiss government to protest the use of the St. Bernards, which are a Swiss national symbol.  The animal rights group ASIANS FOR HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND NATURE, says the dogs are valued for breeding because their offspring grow quickly, require less food, can be ready for market in four months, and their friendly disposition makes things safer for breeders.  There are reports that the dogs are handled in such a way as to increase their adrenaline levels when killed, mostly because of the belief that it will help the sexual performance of men.

 

[Jill]

Maybe 3 people in the world agree with me but I sometimes think a frame score 5 cow is as big as we need. 6 dollar corn would destroy the livestock industry I would think. There would be alot of grass fat cattle around and alot of backgrounding programs.jmo

I am old enough to remember 20% interest and the farms that went under with it,  I'm not sure most of us could survive 6 dollar corn.
I happen to think our economy is shakey at best, the terms builders in our area are giving to sell houses that are just sitting are incredible, fuel prices have put a huge dent in profitability and I think that we are in for a long hard haul.  Hope I'm wrong, just my opinion.

 

[dutch pride]

Maybe 3 people in the world agree with me but I sometimes think a frame score 5 cow is as big as we need. 6 dollar corn would destroy the livestock industry I would think. There would be alot of grass fat cattle around and alot of backgrounding programs.jmo

I am old enough to remember 20% interest and the farms that went under with it,  I'm not sure most of us could survive 6 dollar corn.
I happen to think our economy is shakey at best, the terms builders in our area are giving to sell houses that are just sitting are incredible, fuel prices have put a huge dent in profitability and I think that we are in for a long hard haul.  Hope I'm wrong, just my opinion.

I don't make my living off from livestock but was raised on a cattle and hog farm so I know a little about profit and loss. $6.00 corn will work if you can get $2.00 a lb live for fat cattle I would think. Not sure the consumer would support that price right now with our stagnet economy and current supply of beef and pork on the market. If corn got that high, I think all other feedstuffs would increase as well as demand for alternative feeds would drive up the prices for those commodities as well. I am sure there would be some short term fallout as some producers would end up selling out but when supply was reduced enough, prices for fat cattle would increase as demand would eventually outweigh supply.  As long as inputs are less than receipts, there will be money to be made in the cattle business. It might look different than it does today.

DLZ

 

[showsteerdlux]

I saw that this year at Louisville that they had a miniature Hereford show. i looked at the pics of the winners and in my opinion the steers and heifers didn't look half bad. My question is, how long does it take to get them to the weight at which most of them stop growing? Also in the miniature hereford steer show the tallest calf was nine months old and had a hip height of 37 and 3/4. In my opinion that's a little to short to be an asset to the beef industry at this time.

 

[aj]

6 dollar corn would hurt hogs and turkeys more than cattle I think and everything is relative. It seemslike the price of wheat went up, then corn. Who wants to plant cane feed with grain prices so high so no one plants feed and its price goes up. Soybeans and alfalfa same think. I have heard of crp ground coming out. Remember when we had 6 dollar wheat and they broke out all that ground out by last chance colorado. This deal could get interesting cause we are in a historical situation. Myself coming out of a seven year drought have really healed up financially because of the price bounce. Cost of gains in feedlots at .70 plus it will be interesting. It's ok to feed big framed cattle to 1400 pounds if corn is 1.90 and cost of gain is .35

 

[TJ]

I saw that this year at Louisville that they had a miniature Hereford show. i looked at the pics of the winners and in my opinion the steers and heifers didn't look half bad. My question is, how long does it take to get them to the weight at which most of them stop growing? Also in the miniature hereford steer show the tallest calf was nine months old and had a hip height of 37 and 3/4. In my opinion that's a little to short to be an asset to the beef industry at this time.

I was off the board for a few weeks & just now found this thread.  Dori is right on about the Lowlines & their potential.  Also, Lowline's on the average, are a decent amount taller than mini Herefords.  As a matter of fact, many Lowline breeders are focusing on the "bigger end" of the breed, while many of the mini Hereford breeders are chasing shorter & shorter sizes. 

FWIW, I had the Grand Champ % Lowline bull @ the American Royal.  He is the result of mating a Lowline bull to a Tarentaise heifer.   He is around a 4.5 frame, he weighed around 900 @ 11 months & he had 38cm testicles @ 11 months.  He was not creep fed & the only things that he ever ate besides pasture, was soy hulls & hay.  I've got multiple people in 6 states who are interested in this cross due to high grain prices, drought, potenial to increase stocking rates, grass fed beef, etc.  Actually, I just leased a 3/4 Lowline X 1/4 Angus (100% Angus) bull today to a Tarentaise breeder in southern IL to use on their heifers.  BTW, these same people were laughing at me & my Lowlines just a few years ago, but after seeing the 1/2 bloods, they changed their minds.

IMHO, those 37 inch Mini Herefords are too short.  I think that Fullblood Lowline steers are also too short for commercial settings.  However, the Fullblood Lowline bulls will work great on commercial heifers.  A 1/2 blood Lowline will usually be somewhere in the frame 4-5 range & that is not too small.  As a matter of fact, North Dakota State Dickson posted these results of 1/2 blood steer calves that were sired by Lowline bulls & out of commercial heifers...



                   

 

[showsteerdlux]

Those are definately some good numbers. When i said the short acttle may not be an asset to the beef industry i was more or less referring to the mini herefords. After seeing the pics of lowlines lately I have been pretty impressed.

 

[JbarL]

6 dollar corn would hurt hogs and turkeys more than cattle I think and everything is relative. It seemslike the price of wheat went up, then corn. Who wants to plant cane feed with grain prices so high so no one plants feed and its price goes up. Soybeans and alfalfa same think. I have heard of crp ground coming out. Remember when we had 6 dollar wheat and they broke out all that ground out by last chance colorado. This deal could get interesting cause we are in a historical situation. Myself coming out of a seven year drought have really healed up financially because of the price bounce. Cost of gains in feedlots at .70 plus it will be interesting. It's ok to feed big framed cattle to 1400 pounds if corn is 1.90 and cost of gain is .35

with al the "speculation" talk of 6.00 corn....what do folks contribute this "speculative"  talk ,to???...is it ethanlo???  kinda like the price of oil going up everytime there is an"upper level disturbance" (weather) in the gulf....or could it be the "hybrid" situation we ahve gotten our selves into....everyone loved the improved yeild, and the diesase resistance..., and the simplicity ( other than all the epa required "classes" (monies/time) for proper handling of "ferterlizers", that hybrid corn/food borught  us, not so long ago........., but havent we gotten ourselves in a bit of a pickle dick, with the " hybryd seed" now  having its price and avaliablity controlled by "governement" influenced......how many mid/large scale corn operators do you no that stll uses "regular" corn that the seed is still "reproducable"....or have we got ourselves reliant on the basic ingredient (non-reproductive/hybrid seed) so much that we are not even in control of seed costs now that the cost/avaliablity of seed is now out of individulals hands.....?????  jbarl