It is known that cows are large animals that can weigh from half a ton to a ton. However, there are breeds of mini cows that can be kept as pets due to their small size. Let's consider the description and characteristics of several of their varieties, the rules for choosing, in what conditions to keep and how to care for animals.
Features of mini cows
It is believed that dwarf cows first appeared in the last century in India; the bulk of the population is now concentrated in Australia. They are smaller than their ordinary relatives, their height at the withers is no higher than 1 m. Of course, they are unsuitable for an apartment, but in a private house they can also be kept as pets. The appearance of mini-cows is almost no different from the appearance of large cows; such animals can be milked, they are capable of producing up to 3 liters of milk per day. Adults are distinguished by good health, resist viral diseases, and have strong immunity from birth.
Dwarf cows are bred on farms for milk and meat. They are fertile, undemanding to food and care, calm and non-aggressive, and do not need grazing.
Advantages and disadvantages
This is why dwarf cows have not yet become popular.
The most popular representatives
Several breeds of mini-cows have been developed, the representatives of which differ in appearance, conformation and other characteristics. Let's look at some of them.
Palsho
The breed was bred in Sweden relatively recently, in 2002. It is one of the most dwarf breeds.
Cows have small horns and colors: black, gray and red. They can give up to 3 liters of milk per day.
Yakut mini-cows
Bred in Yakutia, raised for the production of meat and fatty milk.
The weight of cows is up to 200 kg, height is up to 1 m. Yakut cows can also be kept for decorative purposes, as pets.
Angus mini cows
Bred in Scotland, in the county of Anguss, from local domestic stock of normal size. The color of the animals is black, but they can also be red.
Weight reaches 250 kg, height – up to 1 m.
Krasnogorbatovsky mini-cows
The weight of cows is up to 350 kg, they are not as miniature as the others.
The birthplace of the breed is the Nizhny Novgorod region. Animals are red, you can get meat and milk from them. Milk yield is 10-15 liters with milk fat content of 4.3%.
Zebu
A subspecies of cattle, native to Sri Lanka.
They are as miniature as other mini-cows, their height is 90 cm.
Vechur
These are the smallest cows of all similar breeds. Height at withers – up to 80 cm, weight – up to 90 kg.
Animals bred in India.
Highland
The weight of cows is 450 kg, bulls are 700 kg. Color red, brown, black.
Popularity in Russia
Mini-cows are not popular, mostly due to their high cost.In addition, due to their origin, they require climatic conditions that are not always found in Russia, such as warmth and humidity.
Therefore, many farmers are in no hurry to purchase such animals, preferring ordinary ones.
Criterias of choice
When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the fact that the calf or adult cow meets the breed characteristics, exterior standards and characteristic color. Animals must be completely healthy and properly developed. If this is an adult cow, and it is intended to be kept for milk production, you need to clarify what the volume of its milk yield is.
Where to buy and how much does it cost?
In Russia there are breeding farms where mini-cows are raised. For example, they are in the Moscow and Yaroslavl regions. The price of an animal can vary depending on the breed and ranges from 50 thousand rubles to 10 thousand dollars.
Care and maintenance
Despite their size, mini-cows remain the same cows as their large relatives. Therefore, care is standard. You need a warm, cozy, dry and bright room where the animals will live, and a place to walk. You can graze in a small area.
Mini cows are easier to care for because they are smaller than regular cattle. Care includes cleaning the skin and hooves, cleaning the bedding, and ventilating the room. Dwarf cows should be fed the same as regular cows - hay, green grass, grain, root vegetables, and given water 2-3 times a day. Due to their size, dwarf animals are able to consume less feed than regular livestock. In the summer they can get by with grass in the pasture and fertilizing with concentrates; for winter maintenance they need to prepare hay and grain.
To prevent animals from getting sick, it is necessary to carry out timely veterinary examinations, vaccinate against infections, and treat them if necessary. Mini cows can replace regular-sized livestock as they are raised for meat and milk. You can also keep them as pets, for example, in families with children. It is convenient to keep them in a private house, where there is a suitable room for keeping and an area for grazing.
Miniature breeds have many advantages, the main ones of which are undemandingness, economical maintenance, good milk yield, and milk with a high percentage of fat content. The only disadvantages are that representatives of the breeds are not cheap and that the breeds are rare and not common.
