Depending on the forage one-half to 1 acre of pasture is enough to sustain a Dexter at high summer. But maybe 2 hectares or five acres of good pasture would be the minimum for two miniature steers in lush areas like Qld and northern NSW.
My 42 Mini Dairy Cows average about 450 pounds other mini dairy cattle.
How much land do you need for a mini cow. How much land do I need to own miniature cattle. We think 3 or 4 hectares 7-10 acres would be the minimum in most areas in NSW. But maybe 2 hectares or five acres of good pasture would be the minimum for two miniature steers in lush areas like Qld and northern NSW.
With really good pasture you are supposed to be able to support four miniature cows per acre. On our previous property about 1 12 acres was lawn area and we just tied our cow out and let her graze. A miniature cow doesnt damage the turf so she mowed and fertilized as she went.
To rear standard size cows youll need to provide approximately 18 acres per cow depending on crop rotation and quality of land. It depends on what you want and need. There is no general rule as to how big the land should be there is no minimum or maximum.
But since you are at the beginning and you dont have much experience it is safer to start small and then grow along the way. If you reduce the number of cows you have or the time allowed to graze you can reduce the amount of land needed to raise your animals on. For instance 60 head of 1400-pound cows can be grazed on 336 acres of land.
If you decided to graze your 100 head of 1400-pound cows for only 2 months you could graze your cows on 280 acres. They are more expensive than their full-size companions but need only a half an acre per mini cow. This makes it easier to own more cows per acre of land you own and they often produce better milk and are much more kind.
Miniature cows make better pets because they are. Mini Jerseys generally speaking require about 23rds the space of a standard-sized cow. But a larger mid-sized cow needs more space food than a small full-miniature.
If you intend to pasture as much as possible and cut your own hay youll need a lot more land than someone who intends to. Larger cattle eat more so 3 acres would be more of a size they needed. If you TEND the pastures mowing when grass gets up to about 8 inches not mowing shorter than 5 inches your pasture will be MUCH more productive all season.
Around here that can be every 10 days in spring. I used to have a few mini cows herfords lowline highland and jersey They ate about 20 pounds of hay a day in the winter and I kept 6 animals on 20 acres of mostly high desert think lots of rocks and sagebrush They required minerals and vaccines but the vet was only providing half dose on some due to size. DE is not good for your lungs if you breathe it.
I give my cows 12 cup of DE a day during the winter and Herbal Dewormers during the summer. Feeding Dry Mini Dairy Cow. Feeding Instructions for Dry Mini Jersey Cattle.
My 42 Mini Dairy Cows average about 450 pounds other mini dairy cattle. The land required is reduced to about 350 sq ft per animal if the herd strength is increased to 50 animals as the area required for the milk room roads and alleys chaff cutter shed office implements room does not increase proportionately. Space and Feed Requirements A smaller size means Dexters require less food and pasture space than a full-sized dairy cow.
Depending on the forage one-half to 1 acre of pasture is enough to sustain a Dexter at high summer. The All-Natural Livestock De-Wormer. If you work on an average of 12 DSE throughout the year lactating and dry and a carrying capacity of your land of 6 DSE you need 2ha x 6 DSE 12 DSE for 1 cow.
So on 32has you could run 16 cows. The number of cows you can keep without damaging the soil varies from state to state so youll need to do a calculation based on your number of animal units length of grazing season and stocking rate. How Many Cows Per Acre Calculation.
There is a simple calculation to help you work out how much land you need for your cows. This is the minimum amount of land. You can always use more than the minimum.
Animals 11 x average animal weight 1200 lb x 04 x grazing days 365 average yield per acre 9500 lb Acres of Pasture Needed 11 x 1200 lb x 04 x 365 192720 20 acres 9500 lbac 9500 Lets start with how many animals should be on our example farm. So if you were to need six bushels of grain for a standard Holstein you will only need two for your mini. Youll be able to maintain your poultry and swine feed while feeding your cattle as well if you manage your feed plot effectively.
Miniature Texas Longhorn cows should be no more than 45 inches at the hip bone for you to classify them as miniature although some purists insist that they should not exceed 42 inches in height. Next time we will need to increase the land for keeping cattle by at least two times the three acres we had to use. Each homesteads land will react slightly differently.
I think it is safe to say you will need more than a few acres to raise a small herd of cattle without damaging the land. Another factor driving the popularity is that most people dont have enough land for full-sized cattle which need five acres for two cattle compared to an acre for a pair of miniature cattle. A Few Small-Cow Benefits.
If you want to have a cow youll need less pasture and far less space to house a mini version. If you must pen her and feed cut-and-carry forage its doable. Her wee hooves and bantam weight equate with far less pasture damage and.