How Now, Pet Cow?
Miniature cattle aren’t just for eating
S
eeing them for the fi rst time, passers-
by might wonder if they’ve suddenly
been transported to Munchkin Land:
Are those cute little cows I’m staring at
really full-grown? Only 39 inches tall at
the shoulder, miniature cattle are the stock
and trade of many small acreage farmers
learning to cut their teeth in the farming
business. Raised for milking or beef, as
a hobby or even as pets, miniature cattle
are a versatile option for homeowners who
have some extra property. Plus, breeders
say you get more ribeye steaks per pound
than with full-size cattle.
Beth Chudoba, of J & B Lowlines,
breeds and raises Lowline cattle. Lowlines
(sometimes known as Lowline Angus
cattle) were originally bred in Australia
from the black Aberdeen Angus cattle line
in Scotland. Because there is no dwarfi sm
gene in cattle as there is in many other
miniature animals, the breed was selectively
shrunk down to the size they are today.
But although they are smaller than
standard cattle, they’re still bigger than
the average house pet. Packing up to
1,300 pounds on their 3 1/2 ft. tall frames,
Lowlines are still pretty hefty animals.
However, their disposition will likely quell
any fears, breeders say. “Commercial bulls
are frightening, but I don’t think twice
about going out in a fi eld with a Lowline
bull,” Chudoba said.
Chudoba also believes that her animals
are smarter than many people give them
credit for. “The common perception is that
One of Beth Chudoba’s
Lowline calves
BY SHAUN O’DELL
cows are stupid, and they’re not. They will
do almost anything that you ask them to.
We don’t use any electric devices. We don’t
rodeo. All of our cows are trained to follow
a bucket. I can lead a herd of 40 with a
bucket,” Chudoba said, adding, “The way
that commercial cattle are is because of the
way they are raised. They don’t develop a
fear unless they’ve been shown a reason to
be afraid.”
Lowline fans also say the smaller cattle
are more ecofriendly. With commercial
cattle there can be issues of punching holes
in the soil and creating rivers of waste due
to massive consumption of grass and feed.
Miniature cattle like Lowlines consume
less than half the food of commercial cattle,
according to Chudoba. “For a full-size cow,
3 percent of hay for body-weight per day is
the average. The same amount for Lowlines,
3 percent of body-weight, is way too much.
Our Lowlines were waddling when we fed
them 3 percent. Even 1.5 percent is more
than they need sometimes.”
This difference can prevent some of
the major issues that plague commercial
farmers, including the high cost of feed.
Lowlines can just be grass-fed for their
entire growth process, including the
“fi nishing” process, during which most
ranchers of standard size cattle give grain
to beef up the cows for market.
Though good-natured, miniature cattle
are not generally raised to be pets. They
were initially bred to act as a resource
for beef and milk, just like commercial
cattle. Only recently have hobby farmers
begun to consider miniature cattle for
anything but food or breeding. Others say
the animals should stay livestock, not pets.
One breeder didn’t want to be associated
with a “Pets” issue. He told EW, “There’s
a group of breeders that don’t like to see
miniature cattle as pets. I mean, these
animals are some of my best friends, but
sometimes you have to shoot your best
friend in the head.”
Eating your best friend aside, some
Lowline afi cianados even go so far as to
say that no cow, even miniatures, should
ever be considered gentle enough to be a
pet. But Chudoba says it is possible with
the right preparation. To keep a cow happy,
it has to have a friend: “You have to have
some other hoofed animals. I don’t care if
it’s a goat, a llama or a horse. You cannot
put a herd animal by itself,” she says.
However, she does caution prospective
owners about purchasing a goat as a fi rst
choice to accompany cattle: “Goats are
thought of as these great weed-eaters. But
really, roses are fi rst. And then comes any
landscaping lying around.”
To see some miniature animals
in Eugene, check out the upcoming
miniature horse show at Oregon Horse
Center Aug. 14-16. Information on the
show is at oregonhorsecenter.com and for
more information on Lowline cattle, go to
nwlowline.com
j
Tim Verkler
• A Full-Service Real Estate Broker •
• Earth Advantage S.T.A.R. Graduate •
• Former Home Builder •
Multi-Million $ Annual Sales
1999-2009
485-1613
timverkler@remax.net • www.eugeneproperties4u.com
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EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 30, 2009 13