SAN ANTONIO – A unique breed of cattle is growing in popularity at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Miniature Hereford cattle are considerably smaller than regular Herefords and are a favorite of some of the smallest farmers.
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"I like the miniature cattle because you can work them easier," Brandon Arredondo, 7, said.
Grace Curry, 9, said that's why she's particularly fond of Ana.
"She's small and she's easy to handle and she's cute," she said
According to Livestock Committee member Dale Elliot, miniature Herefords grow to about 800 pounds, about half the size of regular Herefords.
"A lot of kids are starting our with them," he said. "They're more of a novelty, they're easier to handle, they require less feed, so it's a whole lot easier to get things done."
No matter the size, raising cattle requires responsibility and dedication.
"When you're showing cattle, it's part of your life, just like dogs and cats. They have to be fed, they have to be taken care of. They spend a lot of time washing and blowdrying these cattle and spending time with them. You have to halter-break them so it's a part of every day life so it's like a big pet," said Elliott.
Since the cows remain relatively small, some people do keep them as pets. Others times they're put up for auction.