Seven Daugherty Farm

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Second most popular question:
Do you have micro full Highland? 🐮

This is where understanding the genetics really matters.

A true micro matures under 36 inches, and traditional Highland cattle were not developed to be that small. To consistently produce cattle under 36 inches, breeders have had to breed down for size, which means somewhere in those genetics there is typically a smaller breed introduced, often Dexter or another smaller-statured breed.

Then comes the long part: breeding back up to Highland.

For example:

100% Highland × 75% Highland = 87.5% Highland
87.5% × 100% Highland = 93.75% Highland
93.75% × 100% Highland = 96.875% Highland

And you can continue from there, generation after generation, selecting for small mature size, Highland characteristics, hair, structure and quality.

That’s why you can see an animal that looks very Highland but isn’t technically 100% Highland. It may be the result of generations of intentionally breeding the Highland percentage back up while maintaining the smaller stature.

What about chondro?

Chondro is another tool breeders may use to reduce height, but chondro does NOT automatically equal micro.

You can’t simply put a chondro-positive bull on a large cow and expect a 32-inch mature animal. Chondro may reduce height, but the size genetics coming from both sides still matter.

That’s why when we’re intentionally using chondro in our programs, we often pair those genetics with already-small females. A 38–44 inch cow has very different size genetics than a 50+ inch cow.

And responsible chondro breeding is always positive × negative, never positive × positive.

This is also why Seven Daugherty Farm and Family Circle Farms partnered.

We share the same long-term goal. We aren’t simply trying to make the next calf small. We’re trying to understand which genetics consistently produce smaller mature cattle and then build on those genetics generation after generation.

That means tracking mature heights, studying pedigrees, retaining animals long enough to see how they develop and making breeding decisions that may not pay off for several years.

And yes, all of this is reflected in pricing.

Producing a genuinely small, high-percentage Highland isn’t something that happens in one breeding season.

A breeder may have years and thousands of dollars invested in the genetics behind one animal: carefully selected breeding stock, semen, embryos, genetic testing, registrations, veterinary work and, most importantly, the time required to raise generations of cattle to maturity and find out what those genetics actually produced.

So if you see a high-percentage Highland being advertised as a true miniature or micro at an unusually low price, ask questions. Ask about the parents. Ask about mature heights. Ask about the Highland percentage and how it was established. Ask about the genetics behind it.

A small, fluffy calf is adorable, but you aren’t just buying what you see standing in the pasture today. You’re buying the generations of genetics behind it.

The program:
Breed down for size.
Breed back up for Highland percentage.
Select for quality every generation.

***Zeke is an example of breed down, breed up for high percentage Highland. **** He is non Chondro - not MICRO- he is MINI

*cross posted*

09/05/2026

The most popular question we get!!

So You Want a Micro Cow?

We get this question all the time: “Do you have any micros?”

Yes, we have produced true micros. But if you’re looking at a young calf, we’re never going to promise you that calf will mature as a micro.

A true micro matures under 36 inches. We use around the 3-year mark as our best practice for calling mature height. Before then, we can make an educated prediction, but genetics still gets the final say.

This is actually one of the reasons Seven Daugherty Farm and Family Circle Farms partnered. Producing consistently smaller cattle takes more than breeding two small cows together. It takes like-minded breeders who understand the genetics, study generations of mature heights, track offspring, make intentional pairings and are committed to the long haul.

The majority of our combined breeding herd is under 44 inches, with roughly 75% under 42 inches. Most of our calves mature into true minis, and occasionally we produce those extra-small micros.

When predicting mature size, we look at:

* Mature height of the sire and dam
* Historical heights throughout the pedigree
* What those genetics have produced previously
* Full-term birth height
* Chondro status, although chondro does NOT guarantee micro
* Growth measurements as the calf matures

We’ve found that a full-term calf born around 15–18 inches has a strong likelihood of staying exceptionally small. The 18–22 inch calves can still surprise you, and we’ve seen some mature micro. Even larger newborns can mature into true minis depending on their genetics and growth trajectory.

Whenever possible, we’re measuring at birth, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months and continuing through maturity. Sometimes genetics still says, “That’s cute that you thought you had me figured out.” 😂

Mary Kate and Ashley are perfect examples. Both are approximately 31 inches at over two years old and seem much more interested in getting wider than taller at this point. 😂 Because they’re maturing so exceptionally small, we chose them for our embryo program.

Even more exciting, we paired them with Macho Man, whose calves have consistently shown us that they can be born small and mature small. We believe these embryo combinations have incredible potential for producing the kind of small, quality cattle both farms are working toward.

Embryos from these pairings are available.

So, can we guarantee that a calf will be a micro? No. Nothing can guarantee mature height, including chondro status or birth height.

What we can do is stack the deck through thoughtful genetics, proven pairings, generations of information and continued tracking. That’s the work behind producing small cattle responsibly.

And if you’re looking for one of those impossibly tiny, fluffy “micro cows” you see in AI pictures online… Mother Nature hasn’t given us that breeding program yet. 😂

Micro is a mature size, not a promise we put on a baby. And that’s something both Seven Daugherty Farm and Family Circle Farms feel strongly about.

**** cross posted ****

09/04/2026

Well, ain’t she wh***ey in a teacup?

For my birthday photos, I knew I wanted some right here on the farm with the animals I love.

The vision was a fancy dress, cows, donkeys and a little farm girl fancy. The reality was that nobody approved of the big tulle skirt. 😂 Even Zeke, my BFF, wanted NOTHING to do with me.

We tried, we laughed, and honestly it made the pictures even better.

My heart will always be with my family, my animals and this farm. I just happen to like a little fancy mixed in with the country.

A little fancy. A lot farm girl. Maybe just enough wh***ey in the teacup.

Photo credit Chloé Nabors ethereal lens photography

09/03/2026

Our clients 💗💗💗

We love seeing the babies we placed being so loved.

09/03/2026

What I feel like Briggs has sang to Truly 😆☺️

09/03/2026

These boys are gorgeous 🤩

Check out our website for more information!
www.sevendaughertyfarm.com

Bred by our partners Family Circle Farms

09/02/2026

Epic• Play Time!

09/02/2026

Ummmmm yeah 🫢

09/02/2026

Bull crush!! Zeke is a pure unicorn! His first calves will be here end of 2026. He is small, hairy, and the best manners.