Hidden Valley Mini Moo's Micro Cattle
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Just a little info on the Micro Mini Zebu Cattle, if you have further questions, contact Melissa @ 606743-1177 or us the e-mail link below. Every miniature zebu owner has different motivations for initially purchasing their animals. The following is a sampling of what some mini zebu owners have given as reasons they own and love this unique & rare breed of exotic cattle. You may find that one or more of these benefits could make miniature zebu a good addition to your family. There is nothing else quite like a miniature zebu, which makes them quite a novelty. They are still quite rare, and most people have never heard of them. It is interesting to see people's reactions after having seen them for the first time. They are amazed at how small and gentle they are, and I've not met a person yet who did not like them. Having a miniature zebu is kind of like having a laptop computer instead of a desktop, getting all the function in a smaller package.Simply put, miniature zebu make great pets! They can be every bit as lovable and affectionate as a big dog, especially if they are bottle raised. They will become as tame as you try to make them, and we've found that even the wildest zebu can become gentle with a little extra time and patience. Miniature zebu can be halter broken and trained to walk on a lead.
Often times, kids are intimidated by large animals. Miniature zebu present a great opportunity for kids to connect with an animal that is smaller, easier to train, and easier to care for. Taking care of animals, in general, teaches kids responsibility. The miniature zebu's small size and gentle disposition make them easier and safer to handle by kids.
Miniature zebu are always a hit at fairs and as 4-H projects. Bottle fed calves and the kids leading them receive plenty of attention. Many zebu owners display their animals at fairs, 4-H events, and even participate in regional shows and competitions.
Miniature zebu are becoming very popular at petting zoos and traveling children's displays, & miniature bull rodeo's They are just so unique to look at, and so gentle, people love them. After all, it's not every day that people get to pet and play with a cow. they get along with other livestock very well, and they make a great addition to any farm family. There is an ever growing national movement toward home-grown, grass fed beef. Many Americans are seeking a healthy, drug and chemical free alternative to store bought foods. Miniature zebu, while valuable for re-sale, can also be raised at home to provide a health conscious family with an endless supply of natural beef. Mature animals are much smaller than full grown cattle and are just right to fill the freezer of a growing family.
There are articles available on the internet from people who milk their miniature zebu. I've never tried it, but they say that it is exceptionally rich in butter fat and the contents can be used to make cheese and other products. They also say the milk is delicious and retains many of the nutrients that are otherwise killed during the packing and shipping process. It might sound crazy not to just run to the store for milk, but I guess everyone got their milk this way 100 years ago.
Need some landscaping maintenance? Some people get these hearty, easy to manage little animals to help clear brush on a thick piece of property, or to keep yard and pasture grass short so they don't have to mow as often.
Miniature zebu are a breed of choice in many kids rodeos. They can be used as bucking bulls or ropers. I don't think I'd be too thrilled about my kid tying himself on to a 1500 lb. Brahma, but maybe a 200 + mini zebu isn't so bad.
Miniature zebu are becoming more of a staple at petting zoos these days. They are a lot more realistic to house and maintain in small quarters around small children than a full sized breed of cow. Miniature zebu get along great with horses!
While horses have a big appetite and eat a lot of grass, miniature zebu eat less than a third of what a regular cow eats, leaving far more grass for your horses.
Miniature zebu require very little maintenance and won't distract you from your horses.
Your family and friends (and maybe even your horses) will fall in love with your little mini cows, I promise.
You may now be eligible for the agricultural tax exemption!!! (saving you $$$) There are many reasons why it is simply more feasible to own miniature zebu rather than full size cattle, and why they are an ideal animal to complement the small acreage land owner or horse farm.
Able to be managed without heavy duty, specialized equipment
Much easier to move and transport, without the need to buy expensive specialized trailers. They weigh less and take up less space, so more animals can be moved with smaller equipment and less fuel.
Their smaller size and generally gentle nature makes them much safer to work with and keep around a homestead.
EAT LESS, averaging eating only 1/3 of what a full sized cow will eat.
Require less acreage and less space to comfortably support a herd.
Smaller size and smaller diet has less of an impact and causes less damage to turf and pasture.
As little as one acre can support a zebu, making them perfect for the small to midsize farm or homestead.
Get along great with other livestock, especially horses.
Very hearty, disease resistant animals that are very self sufficient and require less time and effort to manage.
Perfect warm climate animal, but also do well in colder northern areas. In many communities, urban encroachment continues to "eat up" once rural areas. The average person with a few acres or a small farm can be financially strained when surrounding development increases their property values, in turn driving their annual property taxes through the roof. Counties provide relief for individuals who use their land for viable agricultural purposes such as tree farming, growing crops, or grazing cattle. In most instances, horses do not qualify a person for an agricultural exemption. Cattle do!
Miniature zebu are the perfect animal to acquire to get an agricultural exemption In many instances, including ours, the savings people get from their first year of exemption exceed the cost of their initial herd purchase. That means that just owning miniature zebu allows many people to keep more of their hard earned money, rather than giving it away to Uncle Sam.
It's no secret why urban property investors seek the services of "rent-a-cow" companies to graze livestock on valuable properties. They save themselves a fortune in taxes they don't have to pay, and the land is used for productive purposes rather than sitting idle. Registered foundation pure (RFP) miniature zebu are very popular and very rare. Many buyers travel to different areas of the country to locate and purchase their animals if they can not find them locally. The current average cost of a RFP miniature zebu bull calf is $500 to $3500, while the average cost of a RFP miniature zebu heifer calf is $1500 to $5000. Bulls and cows are normally priced on the higher sides of the averages, and it is very common for animals to sell in the $3000 to $10,000 price range if they are out of quality stock or if they possess small size or unique color characteristics.
Miniature zebu make a great investment, with their sale values often doubling the market value of full size beef cattle. A bred miniature zebu cow will often pay for herself with her first calf. With the demand for these unusual animals increasing and the supply relatively small, miniature zebu can offer a great investment opportunity. Miniature zebu are cattle. Functionally speaking, they are no different than any other breed of cattle around the world. They can be used for meat production, dairy production, labor animals, etc. Remember, a cow is a cow is a cow; it doesn't have to be big to be a cow.
In countries like Africa, where zebu cattle are more common, zebu are raised for meat and dairy for personal and commercial consumption. They are the breed of choice where quantities of grass and other forage are scarce because they require much less food than their larger cousins. They are also used as draft animals to pull carts or trench fields. While the zebu in Africa are generally larger than the miniature variety so treasured in the U.S., they look and live very similarly to their American cousins.
Because the smallest variation of zebu cattle was only recently introduced to the U.S., they are much more rare. This short supply of breeding stock has encouraged most animals to be held for breeding purposes and pets, rather than slaughtered for their beef.
Over the next 20 years, as the breed becomes more common, and as more large farms become subdivided into smaller parcels, the miniature zebu will likely emerge as a breed of choice for small farm production, especially when quantities of space, grass, and feed are limited. Your friends, family & neighbors will want to buy your calves when they see what a great thing you've got going. (They'll think you're a genius!)
That should settle it.
