Minicows!

In an effort to reduce space and feed needed to raise cows, some ranchers and farmers are now raising minicows. Minicows have smaller builds and much smaller appetites than their full-sized brethren.

Minicows generally weigh between 500-700 pounds, compared with 1,300 pounds or more for their full-sized counterparts. Miniature cows eat nearly half of what a normal-sized cows eat, yet they reportedly produce 50% to 75% of the meat of their larger-sized cousins. Minicows can be grass fed, which is much more economical than the feed that must be purchased for regular-sized cows. Minicows also reach their mature weight faster, so they could be sold for meat sooner.

Some consider minicows to be the "green" red meat, as they cause less wear and tear on the land.

Minicows are not genetically engineered to be tiny, and they're not dwarfs. They are drawn from original breeds brought to the U.S. from Europe in the 1800's that were smaller than today's bovine giants.

The big cows we are accustomed to seeing emerged in the 1950's-60's, when farmers were focused on getting more meat and didn't worry about efficient land and feed usage. As land and feed prices continue to rise and modern farmers strive for more efficiency, some are considering switching to minicows.

There are about 20,000 minicows in existence today, but the animals represent a minor portion of the 94.5 million head of cattle in the U.S. this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The minicow trend seems to be on the upswing, particularly for people running smaller farms and for those trying to run more efficient and green ways of raising cattle.

For more on this topic, click here.