Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

a homestead cattle registry
a heritage cattle registry

a miniature cattle registry

a resource for all

About the Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

The Homestead Cattle Association (HCA) was established in 2013 to register livestock in an open general stud & herd book. HCA also maintains a Miniature Cattle Registry, the Irish Jersey & Belfair Cattle Registry, the U.S. Normande Organization, and several other herd books as needed for unique breeds or populations of homestead and miniature cattle. HCA was not formed to compete with other registries; it was established to provide supplemental herd book services for cattle ineligible in other registries, and for cattle not specifically, or adequately, represented elsewhere. HCA herd books issue registration certificates that are globally accepted, with internationally recognized breed codes, providing cattle owners an advantage when collecting frozen genetics, entering shows, or exporting across borders or overseas. HCA provides registry & member services & resources for all owners & breeders, especially helpful for those new to the cattle industry.

What are Homestead Cattle?

BREEDS: Homestead & Miniature cattle are defined by their traits, not by their breed—they are found in a number of breeds, including crossbreds and composite breeds.
SIZE: Small cattle are easier to handle, and easier on the land. Most homestead cattle are miniature, but many are small framed or mid-sized, and a few are standard sized.
TEMPERAMENT: Quiet natured, gentle, friendly. Easier on facilities and fences.
GRASSFED: Ideal homestead & miniature cattle provide excellent (tender, tasty & well-marbled) beef, and/or dairy products, on grass (and hay) alone (no grain). Some, called browsers, thrive on rough pasture; and help clear scrub land, much like goats do.
CONFORMATION: Cattle with grass fed genetics tend to be smaller, but wider and deeper bodied, with well-sprung ribs and shorter legs. Many trace to old breeds or heritage bloodlines, descended from centuries of selection to fatten on grass & hay alone, in harsh climates, without grain.
EFFICIENT: Miniature breeds may eat only half as much as standard breeds of cattle. They are typically healthy little cattle that live longer than modern breeds, producing for many years.
PURPOSE: Homestead & miniature cattle are selected for optimum small-acreage, single-family production, not for maximum commercial production. Compared to larger, commercial breeds of cattle, homestead & miniature cattle can produce more pounds of healthier food, with less dollar of input per acre, for more years.

» also see: BREEDS

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Use to register hardship, mis-marked, off-colored, purebred, composite or crossbred cattle.

For any cattle that

have a pedigree
provide genetic diversity
do not have an acceptable herd book elsewhere

Miniature Cattle registration - all breeds Frame Scores 1—(-6)

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Check out the HCA

Homestead Herd Books: Irish Jersey & Belfair Cattle Registry

US Normande Organization (USNO)

See BREEDS page for list of all Homestead & Miniature breed herd books in the HCA.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

Unrecognized Heritage bloodline cattle exist but are rare, in several popular breeds. Without awareness, these rare heritage bloodlines in Angus, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Hereford, Jersey breeds, etc., are actually becoming endangered. To help preserve these irreplaceable genetics in these now hard-to-find cattle, HCA maintains a free Heritage Cattle Breeder Directory at (heritage-cattle.com).

Homestead & Miniature Cattle Resource Directory

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

A free, public service, cattle industry reference website since 2014.

Breeder Directories
Sire Directory
Globally-quoted articles, reports, charts & graphs.
Resources for All Homestead & Miniature Cattle Owners: miniature-cattle.com.

Homestead & Miniature Cattle

Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

About the Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

What are Homestead Cattle?

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Use to register hardship, mis-marked, off-colored, purebred, composite or crossbred cattle.

Miniature Cattle registration - all breeds Frame Scores 1—(-6)

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

Homestead & Miniature Cattle Resource Directory

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

Feel free to use any HCA chart or graph on your website:

Homestead & Miniature Cattle industry charts

Frame Score Chart Females

Frame Scores infographic

Frame Score Chart Bulls

Breed Purity Chart

Frame Score Chart LIGHT

Pedigree Generation Chart

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you.

Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

Drop us a line!

Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

About the Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

What are Homestead Cattle?

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Use to register hardship, mis-marked, off-colored, purebred, composite or crossbred cattle.

Miniature Cattle registration - all breeds Frame Scores 1—(-6)

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

Homestead & Miniature Cattle Resource Directory

The HCA general herd book is open to register any cattle that need their pedigree recorded.

Heritage Certification: available on registration papers for qualifying (100% pure) cattle

Feel free to use any HCA chart or graph on your website:

Homestead & Miniature Cattle industry charts

Frame Score Chart Females

Frame Scores infographic

Frame Score Chart Bulls

Breed Purity Chart

Frame Score Chart LIGHT

Pedigree Generation Chart

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you.

Homestead Cattle Association (HCA)

Drop us a line!

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