Iowa man hoping to moooove into tiny cow business

The Nando Times ^ | FR Post 6-21-02 | AP

[vannrox]

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Iowa man hoping to moooove into tiny cow business

The Associated Press ROCKWELL, Iowa (June 17, 2002 10:09 a.m. EDT) - Dustin Pillard is betting his farm on compact cows.

Pillard has 50 tiny cows on his northern Iowa farm, all about 3 feet tall. He's hoping they'll catch on as pets, and so far inquiries have come in from as far as Europe, Mexico and Argentina.

"I like them," said Pillard, 30. "If nobody else does, that doesn't really bother me. We're breeding just for the novelty end of it."

The smallest full-grown animal is a 3-year-old bull that's 33 inches tall and weighs 320 pounds. The largest, a mature bull, is 35 inches tall and 400 pounds.

Pillard thinks interest for the cattle, which start at about $1,000, is growing. And the more people know, the more interest he sees.

"If they saw a rodeo bull that was only three feet tall, I'd think they'd have to have one. That's our hope, anyway."

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[Hank Rearden]

I was thinking "that's a lot of bull", but it really isn't.

[SGCOS]

36 inches tall and weighs 400 lbs?.....

How long are they, 14 feet?

[antidisestablishment]

[Cobra Scott]

I know this is the ultimate for urban texans whoo want to ranch in their back yards.

They can drink out of the pool, and you can herd them with dachsunds =)

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Wonder how big the cows are?

[B Knotts]

He's hoping they'll catch on as pets

Outdoor pets, I assume.

I mean...you can't exactly litter-train a cow. :-)

I already have some "compact cows." They're called goats.

And I get milk, too!

[Plutarch]

Socialism had the idea first! According to the Wall Street Journal, Castro urged his scientists to develop a miniature cow that milk deprived comrades could keep in their apartments to milk when they needed.

Too bad there is an export ban with Cuba, there could be a big market for these cute bovines!

[DETAILER]

If they can be trained a little, you can have a pet that keeps the yard trimmed, and fertilizes the garden!

Seriously though, cows are pretty stupid and that loud "moooooooow" is gonna be annoying at three a.m. and they're to stupid to know when you want them to shut up. And they don't mind where the cow pies fall....I don't think they would be a good pet.

[windcliff]

Gotta put one on my Christmas list.

[isthisnickcool]

Small Texas cow.

[elephantlips]

ROFL - They could always get a job with "Gateway."

[antidisestablishment]

That's not milk. Why, that stuff's almost as bad as lite beer!

And billies are the most disgusting animals on God's green earth.

[1Old Pro]

HOW DO THEY TASTE ?

[Reeses]

Women have built-in miniture cow properties, though cost a lot more to keep. Of all the methods women use to lose weight I've never understood why they don't take advantage of that one.

[mhking]

[B Knotts]

That's not milk. Why, that stuff's almost as bad as lite beer!

Bah. You haven't tasted quality goat's milk then. The good stuff comes out of Nubians. Tastes about like cow's milk, but just a tad richer if you don't skim it. It's more digestible than cow's milk, though.

And billies are the most disgusting animals on God's green earth.

I reckon you mean bucks. Yeah, they sure are. I don't keep any of those. :-)

I saw one at a convention that was trying to attract the ladies by...no I am not making this up...urinating into his mouth.

[B Knotts]

According to the Wall Street Journal, Castro urged his scientists to develop a miniature cow that milk deprived comrades could keep in their apartments to milk when they needed.

Presumably, he failed. Yet, we, the evil capitalists, have succeeded. And without a federal small cow program, as far as I know! Just goes to show you that central planning just don't work.

[PrairieDawg]

Hi! You wrote:

I saw one at a convention that was trying to attract the ladies by...no I am not making this up...urinating into his mouth.

It's a Goat thing - you wouldn't understand. ;-)

FRegards, PrairieDawg

[B Knotts]

Furthermore...just look at that face!