No specialized care or feed is necessary for the Miniature Hereford.
Cattle are one of the easiest of all large animals to take care of and a miniature cow makes it even easier. Constantly changing environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, terrain, and altitude vary greatly throughout the world, but Miniature Herefords are known to be a very hardy animal and adapt well to almost all environments. Nutritional needs can vary slightly from one region to the next but as long as their basic needs are met they do very well. The Miniature Hereford must have plenty of good quality hay for winter and a good pasture for summer, a source of fresh water, and a salt/trace mineral supplement available to them.
It is a good idea to find a local veterinarian in your area that will treat your Miniature Herefords and will make house calls just in case of an emergency. It could be disastrous to find yourself without veterinary care in a time of great need. A proper vaccination schedule is highly recommended for the prevention of disease. From calf vaccines to adult booster vaccines it is best to consult with your vet to discuss what is recommended in your area. Other maintenance type care that should be provided by the owner is regular deworming, once in the spring and then again in the fall, with products recommended by your veterinarian.No elaborate facilities are needed in the general care of the Miniature Herefords but some type of restraint is necessary when you want to work with them. Whether being just a head gate, squeeze chute or a maternity pen, nothing too expensive is needed because of their docile nature and small size.
As with all animals, they should have access to a shelter whether it being a barn, lean-to or some type of windbreak for protection against nature's elements.
Special fencing is also not a necessity, but a strand of whatever fencing that is being use should be close to the ground as the calves are smaller than traditional size calves and they can sometimes walk underneath.
Other than basic necessities, getting started with Miniature Herefords is easier than you think. All you need is a little land, a fence and you have the start of a rewarding experience with Miniature Herefords.
