THE INTERNATIONAL MINIATURE CATTLE
BREEDERS SOCIETY AND REGISTRY ®
a division of Happy Mountain® Farm Inc.


THESE DAYS, SMALL IS BIG
"HAPPY MOUNTAIN® MINIATURE CATTLE"
Being developed at the Miniature Cattle Research Facility Happy Mountain® Miniature Cattle Farm - Covington, Washington USA
By Professor Richard Gradwohl

Standard to large animals consume on average 25-40# of alfalfa feed per animal per day. The smaller cattle breeds will consume on average 10-12# per animal per day of alfalfa feed. What a difference! When you consider the high price of feed that equates to a big difference in cost per animal. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there are some long term changes in order. It's a no brainer. Cattle prices are starting to creep up but not at a rate that will make a great deal of difference. Most producers are experiencing a serious profit squeeze. Increased competition, high feed costs and consumer preference changes all contribute to the problem.

Now what's the answer to not going broke? Smaller cattle breeds could be the way to go. At 10# of alfalfa feed per day some of the smaller cattle breeds will reach 600-800# live weight at around 15-18 months. This is 1/3 the feed cost of a large animal. The large animal will reach 1200-1500# but it takes more time. This means you can raise three smaller animals for the same costs as a large animal. The three smaller animals will yield 2400# total live weight beef. The one large animal around 1200# live weight beef. Put simply you could raise twice the beef for the same cost with some of the smaller breeds of cattle. This is true because the smaller breeds are much more efficient feed converters. In addition, because of their size and efficiency you can raise more cattle on a given land area. This can mean more beef per acre which also helps those bottom line profit figures.

Now how about early maturing? Some of the smaller breeds also mature earlier. The genetics for early maturing animals do exist. Some of these animals can reach 800# plus, production weight in 12-14 months as compared to waiting 18-24 months for larger cattle to reach their production weight. A combination of early maturing and greater feed efficiency results in less cost per animal and a faster turn of inventory. What could this mean? Probably a lot of extra trips to the bank to make deposits. At last a profitable operation.

Consider the new breed being developed at the Miniature Cattle Research Facility. Happy Mountain® Miniature Cattle are based on a crossbred foundation of small Hereford and small Angus Cattle. We are creating an animal of outstanding performance characteristics. The Miniature Angus is well known for its beef characteristics. The Miniature Hereford is also known for its beef characteristics and its docile nature. The Angus/Hereford Cross in larger animals has long been known as an outstanding combination. This combination in miniature results in an animal superior to either of its foundation breeds and more feed efficient and early maturing than the larger animals. A short outstanding beef animal with a docile nature. The perfect animal for the small farms of the world that can do well in a variety of climates and pastures. One key to the success of the breed is foundation bull selection. Approved foundation bulls must have won a first or second place at a country regional or state competition for beef breeds (unless approved animals). Another key to the breeds success is selection pressure, through 50% linebreeding, to fix those characteristics desired. Linebreeding (no more than 50% ancestor influence) and bull selection will create the gene pool necessary for Happy Mountain® Miniature cattle to have the prepotency to reproduce similarly consistently.

An alternative strategy to becoming more competitive and gaining better cost controls would be to breed down an existing herd. For instance a Miniature Angus bull on standard size Angus. The problem with this approach is that the F-1 progeny may be more efficient and early maturing but the dam is still consuming 25-40# of feed per day. It may take a few generations to reach your cost control goals. Currently at the Miniature Cattle Research Facility we have over seven hundred semen straws available from some excellent miniature bulls 38" to 44" hip height. You would get good results with some of your smaller Cows and Heifers. This approach could be valuable in combination with developing a Happy Mountain® Miniature cattle herd.

In years past when we had lots of cheap land and cheap feed, bigger was better. That's not the case now. There isn't any cheap land and feed is getting more expensive all the time. Even if you grow your own feed it's still not inexpensive. The only thing that is constant in the world is "change". The American farmer must adapt at a faster rate to all the changes that continue to take place. This means smaller early maturing feed efficient animals.

Consumer preference changes must also be considered, it has something to do with what your customers want and will buy. Few people enjoy a 12 ounce steak anymore. Most people are into 6 or 8 ounce steaks. Consumer tastes continue to change dramatically. The nature of the cattle industry will in a few years not resemble what it is today. Smaller, leaner, low fat, low cholesterol beef is the long term consumer trend. At the same time tenderness is still expected. Happy Mountain® Miniature cattle foundation bull stock have been genetically selected by ultrasound for tenderness, low fat and low cholesterol characteristics.

A case in point is the recent experience and changes at the Keg Restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. According to a Canadian beef magazine the Keg was at risk of losing its "steak house" identity. Some real changes were needed to regain market share. Lots of complaints about tough steaks and inconsistencies were a problem. The Keg went to their customers with surveys and questionnaires to try and find out just what it was customers preferred. The result, "Our customers told us they wanted a quality product every time, and a thick steak of small portion size". "They want meat in the 8 ounce to 10 ounce range and they want it one inch thick to guarantee requested doneness". Doesn't it seem ironic that a company should ask their customers what they want? The Keg has and is prepared to pay a premium to get what they want. At this time there is not enough supply of smaller carcasses from smaller cattle of sufficient grade to supply the restaurant trade. The smaller breeds of beef cattle are the answer to what consumers say they want. Happy Mountain® Miniature cattle are being developed to fill this need. Happy Mountain® Miniature Cattle are the right product at the right time. In addition to our semen inventory we have Happy Mountain® embryos for use in Embryo Transplant Programs.
© 1997 RG