Miniature Feeder Calves or Bottle Babies

Feeder Calves (or Bottle Babies)

We will have a small number of calves that will be available for three weeks from mid July 2027. These are only available to experienced homes, please complete an expression of interest form here.

Non chondro (not mini) calves are $250 each. Chondro (mini) steers are $400 each. Chondro (mini) heifers are $600 each.

We are based 20 minutes from Te Awamutu & 20 minutes from Ōtorohanga on the Waikato/King Country border. We prefer our calves to only travel 90 minutes from our place - feeder calves cannot be transported across the strait to the south island.

These calves are out of our dairy heifers (Friesian cross) and sired by our miniature bulls. Some inherit the chondro gene (and are miniature), some do not (and will grow out to about 110cm).

Calves must have another companion calf to live with (if not buying in pairs) and must be transported in an enclosed stock trailer or horse float - no cage trailers & we will not put them on a transporter.

Buyers must have at least one hectare of good grazing, calves must have access to shelter, fresh water, fresh grass and meal (we feed Fiber Fresh Gain then transition to a muesli and finally pellets).

Calves are fed gold colostrum for at least 24 hours after birth, they are from a roto vaccinated herd. We are NAIT registered, BVD free and our TB status is CM (no positive test from regular testing so we are no longer required to test).

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Feeder Calf Prices

Non chondro (not mini) calves are $250 each. Chondro (mini) steers are $400 each. Chondro (mini) heifers are $600 each.

About half of the calves will inherit the chondro gene from their sire & be miniature, the other half will not inherit the gene.

Our Dusty babies are coming through well built & polled. Our Boris babies are finer boned & only half are polled - calves with horns will need to be disbudded.

Boris Babies

Boris is a miniature White Galloway measuring 94cm. Boris is quiet and treat trained (will come for snacks) he is dominant white so all of his calves are white with coloured markings.

We are expecting 15 or so Boris babies in July and August if 2027. Boris is heterozygous polled (and dairy cows are horned) so half his calves have horns and will need to be disbudded.

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Dusty Babies

Dusty is a miniature Belted Galloway measuring 90cm. Dusty had his first dairy cross offspring hit the ground in 2026.

Dusty's calves all had full belts, with some other white markings on most from their dairy cow dams. All of Dusty's calves are polled and do not need disbudding.

We are expecting about 15 Dusy calves in 2027.

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Dairy X Calves

The calves come with a range of markings because half their genetics are from their dairy cow dams. Some white calves will be well marked, some will be over marked (more like a Speckle Park cross).

All belted calves will have a belt, some are solid, some have socks from their dams or stars or both.

Approximately half are born with the chondro gene and will stay miniature, the other half should mature at approximately 110cm tall.

Some FAQs about mini calves

How much are your feeder calves?

We don't price our calves until they arrive safe and sound, they have been chondro tested, we know if they are polled or not (and how many polled genes they carry).

Our mid size miniature (non chondro) steers start at $2,000 each, our miniature (chondro) steers start at $3,000 each.

Our mid size miniature (non chondro) heifers start at $3,000 each, our miniature (chondro) heifers start at $4,000 each.

We don't often sell bulls, but if you would like one please get in touch.

Our miniature Galloway/dairy cross calves are $250 each for non mini calves, $400 each for mini steers and $600 each for mini heifers. These are sold as "bottle babies" or feeder calves and are only available in July and August 2027.

Do you sell calves for hand rearing?

We have a limited number of miniature Galloway cross calves available out of our Friesian cross dairy cows. These will be available for hand rearing in July of 2026.

They are available from 10 days old, covered transport is required (absolutely no cage trailers) and we do not allow these calves to travel more than two hours from our farm near Te Awamutu in the Waikato. Interisland travel is not an option.

We are not taking expressions of interest, these calves will be advertised as they become available on our Facebook page and in our Facebook group.

What do I need for mini cattle?

Mini cattle are cute but they have the same requirements as standard cattle in terms of friends and feed. We prefer our calves to go in pairs unless you already have mini cattle.

We require our forever homes to have suitable facilities for cattle - fencing, water, yards and a race, as well as a relationship with a local vet who will assist with an animal health plan.

How much area do I need?

One hectare of good grazing is enough for two miniature cattle - this doesn't include cross grazing with other animals. You will also need a plan for feeding supplement in dry and wet seasons.

Miniature cattle eat about the same amount as standard Highlands or Galloways. We have put together some info about grazing calculations here.

Do you have a waitlist?

You can express an interest in our mini calves here. Our mini calves are born in September and October of each year and are available from March of the following year.

We also have feeder calves available in July and August. These calves are out of our dairy heifers. You can express an interest in our feeder calves here.

Updates about our calves are shared on social media. Follow us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to see the calves when they are born and to know when they are available.

We are very fussy about the forever homes that our mini moos go to so we do screen potential properties rigorously. We also have specific transport requirements.

What are the transport requirements?

It is our preference that our calves are transported for no more than four hours so preference will be given to homes within four hours of Te Awamutu in the Waikato.

We have yards, a race and a loading ramp. You can collect your calves in a stock trailer or horse float (absolutely no cage trailers).

Alternatively we can recommend A4dibble Pet Transport. You can find their upcoming trips here and their pricelist here.

Do you have straws available?

Unfortunately we are no longer selling straws for our miniature bulls.

What do I need to know about breeding minis?

Breeding mini cows isn't as simple as it seems (take it from someone who thought it would be very simple!).

We have put together some tips and tricks here or you can join our Facebook group where we share lots of info.

How do I express an interest in your mini calves?

Our fluffy mini cows are much loved pets and we love their calves too. We are very fussy about the homes our calves go to.

You can complete an expression of interest form for our mini calves here. If you are interested in hand rearing a miniature cross calf you can complete an expression of interest form here.

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