Mini Herefords
Golden Mile is proud to offer a select herd of purebred Miniature Herefords – compact, calm, and exceptionally suited to lifestyle blocks and small farms.
With their classic red-and-white markings, gentle disposition, and efficient grazing habits, Miniature Herefords bring all the charm of traditional Herefords in a smaller, easier-to-manage size. These cattle typically stand around 90–110cm at the shoulder and are ideal for those wanting a productive yet low-impact animal with strong beef genetics and docile behavior.
We breed for structural soundness, temperament, and conformation, ensuring each calf is a healthy, well-balanced representative of the breed. All animals are raised with hands-on care, paddock-fed on quality pasture, and accustomed to human interaction from a young age, making them suitable for stud, show, or companion purposes.
Our Miniature Herefords are registered with the NZ Hereford Society & Miniature Hereford Breeders Group, and we welcome inquiries from both first-time owners and experienced breeders. Whether you're building your own miniature stud, looking for a paddock pet with personality, or simply want sustainable beef for the family, our Herefords are a reliable and rewarding choice.
HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND
Miniature Herefords first came to our attention here in New Zealand in 1997. Embryos were imported from Canada and live animals from Australia to establish the first breeding stock in New Zealand. Miniature Herefords originated in Texas and were bred by the Largent family, who has been breeding top show Hereford cattle since the early 1930s.
Since then the interest in these smaller chunky Herefords has grown and the appeal of easy handling and less pasture damage has given smaller acreage farmers who love Herefords the chance to have the breed they prefer to suit the size of their farm.
With 135,000 lifestyle farms here in New Zealand and growing fast the Hereford breed can now fit all size farms and breeders.
Miniature Herefords are pure Hereford and have to pass the strict criteria of the NZ Hereford Association and also until forming their own Rules and Regulations have been registered with the Australian Miniature Hereford Cattle Association. In May 2004 a group of Miniature Hereford breeders met in Rotorua and formed a new group called the NZ Miniature Hereford Breeders Group.
The NZ Miniature Hereford Breeders group will run in conjunction with the NZ Hereford Assn and has rules and regulations that maintain strict criteria on eligibility to register as a Miniature Hereford. The NZ Hereford Assn and the NZ Miniature Hereford Breeders Group both work together to maintain the quality and purity of the breed.
Miniature Hereford breeders have the same aims and goals for their breeding programs as regular size Hereford breeders and look forward to promoting the Hereford Breed with pride.
The Miniature Hereford Breeders Group currently has registered 29 breeders and a number of commercial breeders.
FAQ
Where Do Miniature Cattle Come From?
Miniature Herefords were bred by the Largent family of Texas (United States of America) and the breeding program commenced in 1970's.
Are They Dwarfs?
No. Miniature Hereford cattle have been deliberately bred smaller and originate from top quality bloodlines, all proven free of dwarfism.
They do not carry the Achondroplasia (dwarfism) gene and therefore there is no risk of a genetically generated deformity or abortion. Calf losses are extremely small and even heifers show ease of calving. Newborn calves are vigorous and healthy.
What Are They Good For?
Miniature Cattle are exceptional beef cattle that thrive on limited feed intake thus lowering production costs while producing half size cuts of lean, flavorful, high quality beef. Miniature Cattle will winter on roughly one-third the feed of many of the crossbred cows popular today. They are fast maturing and have excellent birth to weight gains. They reach market weights earlier and for roughly one-third the feed costs and have very
lean carcasses.
Are they a novelty?
Miniature Cattle are naturally quiet in temperament, are easy to handle and raise. This makes them very popular for small acreage farmers, they are also fast being seen to have great advantages to the large beef farmers, who are looking ahead to smaller high quality cuts of meat, along with the advantages of less damage to pasture and facilities and more efficient feed conversion with higher carcass yields. This makes Miniature Cattle a very dual purposed animal suited to all our different requirements.
Is there a market for the meat?
Miniature Cattle are still relatively new here in New Zealand so we still have a way to go before we have our own direct market for this high quality meat. Australia already has an established demand for the well marbled, yet lean carcasses of Lowline Cattle through beef companies that market direct to hotels and restaurants. I see that this will follow in New Zealand with Miniature Hereford Cattle However, the biggest challenge facing the current breeder market is to build up enough numbers of stock. To do this we need to increase the numbers of breeders and NZMHBG Members and do more marketing to increase awareness of the breed Due to their smaller more convenient size, Miniature Cattle will also become very popular for the home kill market, as these are not too much for the average home freezer.
Marketing of Miniature Cattle
There are four categories of opportunity for breeders.
1) Exotic market
Because there a so few Miniature cattle in the world they will have appeal to the collectors of exotic animals. This market is growing as more people purchase acreage to create their own little haven, and keep more unusual animals.
2) Stud Stock market
Over the next few years there will be demand for Miniature Cattle for breeding programs as people build up good quality bloodstock.
3) Commercial carcass meat market
• Niche market to restaurants and hotels who require high quality product
• Whole carcass to family freezer
• Up-market butcheries and delicatessens.
4) Commercial Dairy and beef farmers – Bull market
There is and increasing demand from dairy and beef famers for smaller bulls for use over their heifers.
