Where will Profits be made from
Breeding Miniatures?

Over the last few years we have participated in discussions with the two main miniature cattle breeds Associations and other breeders both in Australia and overseas regarding the future of the industry.

Don Burke summed it up when he said on one of his TV shows that the strength of miniature cattle is the fundamentals are already proven, which is often different to other exotic breeds where the end market is unknown.

The principles of marketing miniatures are quite simple:

• They are extremely efficient converters of food to their prime product, that is, prime cuts of beef.

• They produce a new style of beef; that is, small sized cuts of beef that are perfectly suited to the restaurant trade, that will be sold at a price premium

• The Miniature Hereford prime cuts are also sold direct to the consumer using the Internet in the USA

• They are easy to manage and very docile in nature; handling helps this tendency.
  They require no special veterinarian care - they are just a smaller version of regular beef cattle.

So potential owners only need to decide whether to become breeders themselves - and invest in stud cattle, or to just grow their own herd of small cattle, in which case perfection of bloodline is less important. Stud stock is obviously more expensive but you can then sell their offspring as stud stock to others. If you simply want small cattle, first cross miniatures are much cheaper.

We at AMH can advise you on the pros and cons of these two approaches. The next article helps better understand the cost-benefit equation.

SUPPORTERS

Australian Miniature
Hereford
Network
 Community
Share your common interests and experiences with other miniature Hereford breeders. Tell the rest of the community when you have an animal to sell or would like to buy more stock - they may be able to help you. Ask for help with a problem you have - another community member will more than likely be able to help.