Pets are simply adorable, and we all love them. Yet, if you are tired of dogs, cats, or birds, ( if you can grow tired of them, EVER), we have another option that might interest you- mini cows!
Yup, you read it right! You can now have a fluffy lovable little cow at home!
Lovable Little Ones, a specialty mini-cow breeder based out of Colorado, claims that cows make “exceptional pets that demonstrate a great deal of affection, are very social, and are easy to take care of.”
They claim:
“Our miniature cow farm is located in Eastern Colorado where we are currently raising pet quality miniature and micro-miniature cows. At Lovable Little Ones™ we take pride in working with and developing our calves to be exceptional pets.
Our calves are halter broke, trained to be around adults and children, and of course lovable. It is our goal to be one of the best miniature cattle breeders in the United States that produces the highest quality miniature cattle with lovable dispositions and great personalities.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jub5Z6DMc7U&feature=emb_title
Rosamund Young, farmer, and author of the book The Secret Life of Cows explains that cows are very smart but more difficult to teach. She adds that they can be shy, sweet, and bossy:
“They’re all so different. I do think they need to be respected as having massive differences – as many differences as us, quite probably.”
Yet, before you take your coat and rush out of your home, there are things to consider. Mini cows are still not that miniature, as they are generally about one-half or one-third the size of a standard, full-sized breed of cow.
However, if you are a small-scale homesteader, a miniature cow is everything you need!
These cute little cows produce usually around 1 gallon of milk per milking, so one mini cow can feed a standard family of four for months. They live for about 20 years, which is much longer than the average cow.
These mini beauties require less food as well, which also means that they produce less waste, and do not require expensive handling equipment.
These cows are great pets, docile and easy to care for, and they are especially gentle with smaller children.
Lovable Little Ones adds:
“Miniature cattle are a great inexpensive way to teach your children responsibility, and some very useful agricultural fundamentals. Their small size makes miniature cattle easy and safe to work with for any enthusiast.”
There are 26 recognized breeds of mini cows to choose from. Yet, there are cons as well.
Even if you have the needed space, the place you live might not allow you to keep miniature cows at home, as livestock laws vary from town to town.
Also, they are difficult to find and expect to pay at least $1,800 for one of them.
When it comes to safety, these mini cows are strong, and even though they are not aggressive, accidents can happen just like in the case of any other animal.
So, carefully weigh the pros and cons, and let us know if your next pet is one of these adorable mini cows!