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Frequently Asked Questions
about
Miniature Hereford Cattle
1) Where Do Miniature Herefords Come From?
Miniature Herefords were bred by the Largent family
of Texas (United States of America) and the breeding program
commenced in 1970's.
(Refer- Miniature Herefords page)
2) Are They Dwarfs?
No. Miniature Herefords have been deliberately bred
smaller and originate from top quality bloodlines, all proven
free of dwarfism.
They do not carry the Achondroplasia (dwarfism)
gene and therefore there is no risk of a genetically generated
deformity or abortion. Calf losses are extremely small and
even heifers show ease of calving. Newborn calves are vigorous
and healthy.
3) What Are They Good For?
Miniature Herefords are exceptional beef cattle that thrive
on limited feed intake thus lowering production costs while
producing half-size cuts of lean, flavourful, high quality
beef.
Miniature Herefords will winter on roughly
one-third the feed of many of the crossbred cows popular today.
They are fast maturing and have excellent birth to weight
gains. They reach goal weights earlier and for roughly one-third
the feed costs and have very lean carcasses.
4) Are they a novelty?
Miniature Herefords are naturally quiet in temperament, are
easy to handle and raise. This makes them very popular for
small acreage farmers, they are also fast being seen to have
great advantages to the large beef farmers, who are looking
ahead to smaller high quality cuts of meat, along with the
advantages of less damage to pasture and facilities and more
efficient feed conversion with higher carcass yields.
This makes Miniature Herefords a very dual
purposed animal suited to all our different requirements.
5) Is There Market For The Meat?
Miniature Herefords are still relatively new here in New Zealand
so we still have a way to go before we have our own direct
market for this high quality meat.
Australia already has an established demand
for the well-marbled, yet lean carcasses through beef companies
that market direct to hotels and restaurants. Also through
up-market butcheries and delicatessens. I see that this will
follow in New Zealand.
However, the biggest challenge facing current
breeders is to build up enough numbers of stock to supply
a fast growing demand for breeding livestock.
Due to their smaller more convenient size,
Miniature Herefords will also become very popular for the
home kill market, as these are not too much for the average
home freezer.
Marketing of Miniature Herefords
There are three categories of opportunity
for breeders.
1) Exotic market
Because there a so few Miniature Herefords in the world they
will have appeal to the collectors of exotic animals. This
market is growing as more people purchase acreage to create
their own little haven, and keep more unusual animals.
2) Stud Stock market
Over the next few years there will be demand for Miniature
Herefords for breeding programs as people build up good quality
bloodstock.
3) Commercial carcass meat market
- Niche market to restaurants and hotels who require high
quality product
- Whole carcass to family freezer
- Up-market butcheries and delicatessens.
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