Quamby Pines Chalet, incorporating HCH Miniature Hereford’s is an Eco-Tourism Accredited Farm-stay near Deloraine in Northern Tasmania. On our chemical free 40 ac. farm, we run few animals like fallow deer, sheep a few chooks and our lovely Miniature Herefords.

Due to my restricted mobility we only have 3 cows and a bull left, it makes it easier for my wife to look after them, mind you they don’t need much attention and they are very happy in the lush green pastures of Quamby Pines. Our animals are frame score 0-00 I do like the smaller sizes of 000 and 0000 but I am also a meat lover and don’t want to sacrifice too much of this side.

Most of our offspring is sold through our website and the rest through recommendations from previous satisfied customers. Our main criteria are to sell them to good homes and we are happy to negotiate on sale prices. We always welcome visitors and I encourage people who are interested in Miniature Herefords to do a Farm visit first.

Below is a bit of History, regarding the first Importation of Embryos and live Miniature Herefords including “QUAMBY BROOK GOLD NUGGET” our first Mini

“BAIRNSDALE ADVERTISER” FRIDAY, Jan. 10/1997

First Miniature Herefords Arrives

Anyone, including small acreage farmers interested in new livestock investment, will probably be excited by the arrival of the first Miniature Hereford cattle imported from Canada to Australia. The herd of one bull and heifers will soon be released from quarantine to their first home at Clematis (near Melbourne).

According to marketing director of Superior Stock Selection Pty Ltd., Sandra Canning, the first Miniature Herefords to breath Australian air, were a small group of calves born during December. The tiny calves were implanted to their surrogate mothers as embryos early in 1996 at Clematis .All are said to be doing well.

Superior Stock Selections (selling agents for the animals) principal, Mr. Jay Canning, said we are delighted to have the animals here at last. There has been incredible interest in the breed already, the only problem so far having been, that most people have not had a chance to see them first hand”.

Miniature Herefords are Australia’s newest cattle breed. “They are a truly beef oriented breed”, said Mr. Canning. They have an exciting future because they offer improved beef production for many farmers and because under four hundred of the animals exist throughout the world, making them an excellent investment prospect:, he added.

Mr. Canning points to test recently conducted by the US Agriculture Department at the University in Fort Collins Colorado, which showed exciting results.

“On a body weight basis, the smallest Herefords in the tests had the largest rib eye areas and also heaviest muscling. These results point up the importance of Miniature Hereford cattle genetics in adding to beef productivity: he said.” bred for improved confirmation and meat production, Miniature Hereford cattle are very similar to normal Herefords in almost every way from a physical point of view. However, similarities stop there,” said Mr. Canning. From a market acceptance and market potential point of view, the Miniature Hereford breed has the world at its feet, he added. In discussions Mr. Canning said”. The great beauty of the miniature cattle we sell, is that the world has developed a whole new need for them. The western world has many more times small farms than 30 years ago and small productive animals are perfectly suited, this means that people who invest in these animals now, can expect buoyant market for some time. We plan to be quite patient in our development of overseas markets, said Mr. Canning. Australia already has about nine million normal Herefords, we expect to see tens of thousands of Miniature Herefords bred in Australia before our local market slows down and it will take many years for this to be achieved”, he added. In the meantime we will conduct detailed production trials and product market development for the Minis. “It is another fact that Miniature Herefords can produce a small boutique quality cut which is attractive to chefs because it can be cut more thickly and cooks more easily. We already know that individual beef bred labeling is on the way. Hereford beef is already the most popular beef bred by far and miniature will benefit from that”, continued Mr. Canning.

Apart from the real commercial applications of Miniature Herefords, breeding them is going to be fun. They are beautiful, quite little animals, which are easier to handle than normal Herefords. They breed just as well and we think it will surprise some of our customers how big a return they can make from owning or breeding them”, concluded Mr. Canning. Conclusion: All aspects of this Letter are still valid today in 2009, as they where then.

Our Original Cow “QUAMBY BROOK GOLD NUGGET” belonged to this historic Group.

According to marketing director of Superior Stock Selection Pty Ltd, Sandra Canning, the first Miniature Herefords to breath Australian air, were a small group of calves born during December. The tiny calves were implanted to their surrogate mothers as embryos early in 1996 at Clematis. All are said to be doing well.

Compiled by Heinz & Cely Gleich