Miniature Herefords are NOT a different breed. A Hereford is and always will be a Hereford, irrespective of size. The breed originated in Herefordshire in the United Kingdom where the animals are the same size as the Miniature Breed in Australia.  The UK animals are registered as either Herefords (if horned) or British Polled Herefords (if polled) and there is no other size of the Hereford in the UK. Some Australian and American Hereford breeders have deliberately breed bigger to match their market requirements.

The name ‘miniature’ originated in the USA, where height requirements need only be met at USA Miniature Hereford Breeders Association sanctioned shows.  In Australia all Herefords need to be registered with Hereford Australia and for them to be classed as a miniature they need to have no large Herefords in their genetics for four generations and meet, at maturity, height requirements.  At maturity a miniature Hereford needs to be frame score 2 or less, that is 124.4cm for females and 129.4cm for bulls.

Click on this link to see the Frame Score chart.