Monday, 24 September 2007 23:37
Pint Size Cattle in Plymouth
![slide14 slide14](/images/stories/Sept%2007/9-25/thumbnails/thumb_slide14.png)
They are raising animals
for a small but growing niche in the livestock business: little cattle for
little ranches. The smallest of the miniature breeds stand less than 3 feet
tall, full grown. They're not pets but they are cute, they keep
the weeds down, and have sweet dispositions, according to Boriolo. For now, the
money in micro-beef is in breeding -- raising adorable cattle and selling them
-- for $3,500 and up -- not as meat, but as breeding stock for another
herd-to-be. Still, the harsh realities of ranching on any scale cattle dictate
that, at some point, some of the Boriolo’s young males will take that last,
long ride to Swingles Meat Market.