Rare Breeds Ranch

Rare Breeds Ranch, run by Marlin Neidhardt in Taylor, North Dakota, has developed a miniature Jersey cattle program built on decades of ranching experience in the northern Great Plains region, not far from Bismarck.

The program grew out of more than 30 years of raising nurse cow operations on the ranch. Starting in 2013, the herd was selectively bred toward miniature Jersey genetics using an upbreeding approach, working each generation closer to the ideal miniature Jersey standard. The goal was to reach Native Pure and ultimately Foundation Pure status through a multi-year breeding timeline.

The cattle are sized primarily in the mid-miniature range, generally falling between 42 and 46 inches at the hip, and are traced to well-regarded Foundation sire lines. The program was built with homestead and small-scale ranch use in mind, emphasizing dual-purpose animals suited for milk production and raising butcher steers. Animals were handled regularly from birth, including daily contact as nurse calves, contributing to the gentle temperament the herd is noted for. Those looking for miniature Jersey cattle in North Dakota will find a program rooted in practical, long-term selective breeding rather than quick assembly.

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