THE INTERNATIONAL MINIATURE CATTLE
BREEDERS SOCIETY AND REGISTRY ®
a division of Happy Mountain® Farm Inc.
ARE THERE DEEPER REASONS
TO HAVE MINIATURE CATTLE?
 By: Dick Bauman/Pretty Good Mini-Herefords


We like our little cattle! In this article I'd like to express some viewpoints that you probably haven't considered before - viewpoints that help my wife and I appreciate our little cattle more each day.

As a biologist I could probably discuss the physiology of cattle and/or the specific nutritional requirements of bovines. And having an interest in research I could probably determine populations, geographical distributions, and economic significance of "little" cattle. However, today I'm going to do something unusual - and hopefully interesting - pertaining to the cattle topic: let's see what the Bible says about cattle.

First of all, let's understand that this topic isn't promoting "religion" or "doctrine", and neither is there any intent to convince, persuade, or alter anyone's beliefs. And certainly this article is not intended to represent the views of the IMCBS or the publisher of this newsletter. Simply put, just out of curiosity sake,

What does the Bible say about cattle?!

The first reference to "cattle" is found in the first book of the Bible: Genesis. Cattle and man were made "spiritually" at the same time - the sixth day (see Genesis 1:24-28 KJV). I've used the term "spiritually" because Genesis 2:4-5 says these things were created "before it was in the earth" and "before it grew".

Hmmmmmm! Would this apply that cattle, and other beasts, have a "spirit" - a life essence that had a pre-earth existence? And if there was a pre-earth existence, would there also be a post-earth existence for our little cattle?

There is a reference in the Book of Ecclesiastes that seems to tie in with that thought. In Ecclesiastes 3:18-21, it says mankind needs to understand "...that they themselves are beasts" and they also die, and mankind and beasts "have all one breath" and "man has no preeminence above a beast".... "All go unto one place"...and no one can say that man's spirit goes up, and the beast's goes down.

(I guess if I'm not above my cattle, and would end up at the same place, I'd better treat 'em real good!)

Noah had cattle with him in the ark at the time of the flood (Genesis 8:1), and the rainbow was given afterward by the Creator as a token of the covenant He made with Noah and "...the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you..." That there would never again be a worldwide flood of water.

In the Book of Psalms, it talks about "the cattle of a thousand hills" (see Psalms 50:10). I do know that seeing little groups of cattle throughout the Ozarks is a peaceful sight!

Psalm 148:10 says the time will come that the "beasts and all cattle" will praise the Lord. This seems like a strange thing: an animal speaking? There is another reference to an animal speaking - an ass - when his master hit him with a stick, when the ass was really trying to protect his master from being slain by an angel. (It's also interesting that the beast could see things that the man couldn't!!) Read in the Book of Numbers 22:21-33.

It appears that even the condition of cattle is judged by the Almighty. It is stated in the Book of Ezekiel 34:20 "Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and the lean cattle". (Maybe I'll give my Mini-Herefords a little extra hay!)

And does the Bible have anything to say in behalf of the MINIATURE breeds of cattle? There is a mention that under the Law of Moses that small cattle seemed to be pleasing to the Creator for sacrifice. We read in the Book of Isaiah 43:23, "Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings...."

And, finally, in the Book of Isaiah 7:25 there is a prophecy that a time would come that the survivors of a great destruction would have abundance of food "And on all hills that shall be digged with a mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briars and thorns: but it shall be sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle". Isn't that interesting?! There would come a time that lesser (small!) cattle would be important!

We at PRETTY GOOD MINI-HEREFORDS do feel our "lesser" cattle are pretty special. Over the years we've developed a special little herd. Conformation, size, and "heavenly" temperament are important to us, and we do feel like our Mini-Hereford project has "eternal" value. And just in case there comes a time of great upheaval and destruction, and society as we now know it is greatly diminished, the miniature breeds, with there excellent practical qualities may very well be in greater demand and even more appreciated than we can comprehend.