Half-Pint is one of about 300 minicows on the Petersen ranch in Nebraska. The mini Herefords weigh 500 to 700 pounds, compared with 1,300 pounds or more for full-sized cows. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Miniature cows are drawn from breeds that originated in Europe in the 1800s and that were smaller than todays bovines, an animal science expert says. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersen’s KP Ranch started raising minicows in the mid-1990s. Some ranchers had said the Petersens would have trouble selling consumers on their mini-steaks. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Kenny Peterson pulls a miniature Hereford into a barn. Today there are more mini-Hereford breeders in the U.S. than a decade ago, according to the International Miniature Cattle Breeds Registry. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersen helps a mini Hereford calf take its first step eight hours after it was born. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
A log keeps track of minicow breeding and calving at the KP Ranch. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Kenny Peterson separates a group of miniature Hereford cattle. The cows can be grass fed, which cuts down on feed costs for farmers. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersens truck sits outside of the KP Ranch. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersen coaxes a miniature Hereford toward her with a banana, so she can brush out the cows winter coat. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersen carries a miniature Hereford calf while her husband, Kenny, leads the calfs mother to the pasture. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
Ali Petersen displays a belt buckle she won at the 2008 Iowa State Fair. (Chris VanKat / For The Times)
