Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
April 2008
Abstract
Recent years have seen more and more interest in small, hobby farms, as well as retirees moving to acreages. The growing group of small landowners and producers is driving a move supporting production of smaller cattle. Miniature cattle are perfect for these settings. These cattle are located in all fifty U.S. states, as well as around the world. This article addresses: reasons for the recent, growing interest in miniature cattle; how their miniature status is defined; the major players involved in the breeding, development and promotion of these cattle; the populations miniature cattle are most attractive to; the breeds being downsized and how that is being accomplished; new breeds being developed; the advantages of miniature cattle; uses for miniature cattle; potential for miniature cattle for economic development across the world; and the lack of, and need for, documented, scientific research on these special “new” cattle.
[Publisher's version, posted 7/14/2008. The originally posted preprint version is also attached as a "Supplementary file"
Preprint version of this article (April 2008)
Comments
Published in Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, Vol. 9(2), 2008 Available online at http://jafi.haworthpress.com Copyright (c) 2008 by The Haworth Press. Used by permission. doi: 10.1080/10496500802174036