Dolly’s Pals Mini Cattle Co.
QUITMAN, ARK. – A small herd in central Arkansas, where black Angus gaze and miniature cattle peak in between. Paige Mcghee and her husband have been raising Angus beef cattle for over a decade, marketing between 25 and 35 replacement calves every fall and spring. Farming is just something Mcghee understands intimately, as she comes from an agricultural family exposed to it all.
As a child, Mcghee has been fascinated by all things small. They are miniature Highlands and High Parks, a miniature breed of a traditional type that has charmed well beyond the confines of Paige’s pastures.
“I’ve always been drawn to miniature things,” she laughs. “I want the smallest dog, the smallest cow, and now we even have a miniature donkey.”
That love for “mini” translated into something much bigger when my parents surprised me with my first mini cow, a Highland Park mix. We named her Dolly. Mcghee was 25 at the time, and she continues to regard Dolly as “the queen of the pasture.”
“Dolly was a bottle baby and my first cow. She’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Mcghee says. “She’s goofy, she’s spoiled, she is the one who started it all.”
Her sister Cook says, “Our mom got her started with her mini cattle operation when she gave her Dolly. The star of Dolly’s Pals!” Cook explains. “That one cow really sparked something in my sister.”
It wasn’t long before this lifelong passion project blossomed into a full-blown operation. Before long, Mcghee and her husband were breeding their Mini Highlands and high parks, utilizing their expertise in their livestock operation to build a successful miniature cow program.
“Why not have a high-dollar animal and reproduce it when you have the knowledge and skills to do it?” Mcghee explains. “The mini cow world is a learning curve, but it’s so worth it.”
The determination is admired by her sister, Brooklyn Cook.
“I’m so proud of her drive and dedication,” she says. “The time and heart she put into her farm are truly inspiring, and I know her sharing her journey online will motivate so many others, too.”
Her breeding operation emphasizes quality and temperament. The highland breed, known for its calm demeanor, is an excellent choice as a family pet.
“They’re just naturally docile,” explains Mcghee. “But my herd has personality. They love attention, scratches, and they’re bossy! Even with our Angus cows, the little ones run the show.”
Paige and her husband both have jobs off the farm, so their mornings and evenings are filled with feeding hay, brushing the cows, and handing out treats.
“It’s our wind-down time,” she says. “Just being with them grounds you after a long day.”
Paige’s sister verifies that Paige’s cows are indeed spoiled in the best possible way.
“Her cows are spoiled with treats and ‘pets’ every day,” says Cook, “They’re also much more groomed and photographed than your typical cattle!” And this love is mutual as well. “Her cows see her as their mom,” says her sister. “When she walks into the field, they come sprinting toward her. You can tell they’re genuinely excited to see their human.” The Highlands, with their heavy coats, are well-adapted to the seasons in Arkansas.
They are given shots twice a year, wormed, and given a special mineral to help lower their body temperature in the summer months. “They do great year-round,” says Paige. “They shed a lot in the summer and are built for the cold.”
Her curiosity and passion for learning ensure that she continues to upgrade her herd regularly.
“I’m a nerd when it comes to this stuff,” she says. “I’ll sit and read about genetics for hours. I truly love my cows – they’re my prized possessions.”
Every cow that Mcghee owns has a unique personality. Fergus, her bull, has a passion for hand-fed treats; then, of course, there is Puddin, the sassiest among all with a big boss attitude, and lastly, Dolly, the goofy bottle baby who still believes that she is the boss.
If Paige had to summarize her herd in three words, they could be:
“Chunky, compact, and sassy,” she says.
Apart from their charm, the mini cows have brought joy to Mcghees family; even her children enjoy spending time with them. Mcghee describes the ranch as a haven that offers a sense of calm.
“It’s just a good wind-down at the end of the day,” she says. “The minis are so sweet, they even love my babies.”
“I think my sister Paige is an inspiration to others as well,” says her sister.
“Mini cattle operations are still pretty rare,” says Cook. “A lot of people have a mini cow as a pet, but not as a full farm operation. She’s really paving the way for others who want to start their own mini cattle business but might be hesitant because it’s so different from a traditional farm.”
Having raised her cows for three years, Mcghee is now looking to the future because she is already noticing a rise in her calves’ weight.
“You can’t blame them,” she says. “They’re just so cool.” “I plan to continue growing my program, teaching buyers how to breed properly, and raising quality minis that are as healthy as they are cute,” says Mcghee.
