Miniature Cows As Pets
The latest trend in the miniature cattle sector involves families seeking mini cows as pets. Bringing one of these adorable creatures home is a significant undertaking but promises great rewards. Ensuring your property and family are well-prepared for this adventure is crucial for success. With years of experience in enriching families’ lives with these charming animals, we understand the importance of proper handling and safety. Here are the essential considerations before welcoming a miniature cow into your home.
What kind of mini cow is best for my family
There are numerous miniature cattle breeds available, too many to cover comprehensively here. However, let’s focus on a few of the breeds raised here at Xbar6 Miniature Cattle: Miniature Highland, Highpark, Belted Galloway, and Dexter. Miniature Highlands and Highparks, babies are often featured on social media, are particularly popular among families.
Miniature Highlands boast long, fluffy coats in various hues like black, red, silver, and white.
Highparks are white with colored points on their ears, muzzle, and lower legs. They inherit their fluffy coats from their Highland lineage.
Belted Galloways, affectionately known as “oreo or cookie” cows, sport a distinctive white band encircling their bellies. While typically black, they can also be found in red and dun varieties.
Lastly, Dexters are compact cattle typically seen in solid black or red hues.
All 4 breeds can be well socialized with the right training to meet your families needs. Dexters do tend to be a little more independent and can take more time to warm up.
Want to dive deeper into the different breeds click here.
Are mini cows safe as pets:
The most important thing to remember about miniature cattle is that even though they start out small cute little calves, they can grow to be anywhere from 300 to 1000 pounds when they’re fully grown! They don’t stay tiny forever!
Since they’re animals, it’s crucial to take the time to learn about and understand their behavior. Finding a trustworthy breeder is key. A good breeder will have already trained your animal before bringing it home and will take the time to talk with you about how to properly care for your mini Highland (or whichever breed you choose).
You can enjoy petting, brushing, grooming, and loving your mini cow, but it’s important to set clear boundaries about what’s okay and what’s not. Remember, something that seems cute when they’re babies could turn into a risky or dangerous behavior when they’re fully grown.
Where will my miniature cow live:
Your miniature cow should be kept outdoors. It is important to provide enough space for them to move around and enjoy themselves. Additionally, make sure to provide a secure and comfortable shelter to protect them from the elements such as wind, rain, snow, and sun. For more information on creating the ideal living environment for your miniature cow, refer to our blog post on facilities. It is worth noting that contrary to common belief, they cannot be house trained.
Can I have just one miniature cow:
This is a frequently asked and an excellent question. The simple answer is yes you can have just one little cow. However, they are herd animals and they prefer to have other cows around. So, getting more than one mini cow, or steer will make your mini much happier. They will also feel safer and more secure. It’s similar to sending a child to the playground without any other children to play with. Can they still play? Yes, but it’s definitely more enjoyable when there are other children to play with.
Should I get “a boy or a girl little cow”:
So…. a “cow” is actually a female bovine. The word “cow” gets misused in reference to all cattle regardless of sex and it is incorrect. Getting a male (bull or steer) or female (cow or heifer) is really a personal preference. Males that have been castrated (steers) make amazing pets. Females also make great pets. When getting your first miniature, we highly recommend that you not get a bull. Bulls are for those who have more experience in handling cattle and good containment facilities. Take a few minutes to learn about the terms and differences in cattle sexes here.
Considering raising babies?
When first starting with any type of miniature cattle it is not recommended to start out breeding. Getting to know and understand cattle is extremely important before breeding them. We know how tempting it is to have one of those adorable little babies born at your home, but it is better left to breeders until you have had a few years of experience with your little fluffy cows.
Only bulls have horns, right?
No, this is not true! It is the breed of cattle that determines whether or not it will have horns, not the sex of the animal. You can learn more about what breeds have or do not have horns in our explanation of breeds blog.