Swallow, Smallest Cow In The World, Is 33 Inches From Hind To Foot (VIDEO)

LONDON — A minuscule cow with a taste for contemporary music has been named the world's smallest by the Guinness World Records book.

Guinness says the sheep-sized bovine from the West Yorkshire region of northern England measures roughly 33 inches (84 centimeters) from hind to foot.

The 11-year-old cow is named Swallow and her owner, Caroline Ryder, said she would spend Thursday either grazing with her herd or listening to BBC radio in her cowshed.

Swallow is a Dexter cow, a breed known for its diminutive stature, but is small even by Dexter standards.

She already has nine regular-sized calves and is pregnant with her 10th. Guinness said her youngest calf has already grown larger than she is.

Guinness World Records 2011 was published Thursday in the U.K.

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Online: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/

WATCH:

Comments

[KIVPossum]

02:22 AM on 09/18/2010

Not going to get a good rib eye out of that

[furby4]

12:50 AM on 09/18/2010

I guess these little guys are bred for making sliders.

[FTracy3]

10:54 AM on 09/18/2010

Nicely done.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

06:59 PM on 09/17/2010

WHAT A RIP OFF............AT LEAST THEY COULD HAVE HAD FOOTAGE OF THE COW INSTEAD OF THE SAME PICTURE THEY HAVE ON THE TITLE OF THE STORY.

[Beth Boyle]

05:23 PM on 09/17/2010

Dexter cattle are an old Irish breed and they have always been tiny cattle. I know someone who had a team of Dexter Oxen.

[Chaling]

03:35 PM on 09/17/2010

That is a Shorthorn bull in the main pic, and while not tall cattle, like Holstein, they are more bred for beef(there is a Milking Shorthorn dairy line that is generally taller than the beef line), and is therefore a bigAround cattle. Makes for a great size-contrast photo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorthorn

[Ozark Homesteader]

11:10 AM on 09/17/2010

I've wanted a Dexter for years. They are absolutely amazing for giving 2/3 the milk of a "regular" sized cow while using 1/2 the resources or less. Bigger isn't always better.

That said, this cow is sooo tiny. My big male cat is longer (about 36 inches), nose tip to tail, than this cow is from hoof to hind.

[SusanElizabeth1949]

10:28 AM on 09/20/2010

She is considerably smaller then most Dexters, probably a genetic dwarf. I had a dog that was half Malamute and half German Police, he stood 11 inches at the shoulder, but was actually stronger then any of his 9 brother's and sisters.

[grange]

08:30 AM on 09/17/2010

err below was for a different story on another website...............

[grange]

08:28 AM on 09/17/2010

News and political bias are too closely linked in my opinion.

[grange]

08:11 AM on 09/17/2010

'Dexter Cattle forum...' lol brilliant

[Ozark Homesteader]

10:32 AM on 09/17/2010

The US, Britain, and Australia all have Dexter forums. Dexters are such amazing heritage breeds.
http://ozarkhomesteader.wordpress.com/

[knerd]

06:25 AM on 09/17/2010

That must be where those little cartons of milk I used to get in the school lunch line came from.

[llisa]

02:26 AM on 09/17/2010

Some reason we couldn't see the farmers walk up to the little cow? We had to see a picture book?

[OneTop]

11:40 PM on 09/16/2010

Once again, they don't interview the star ...... only their spokesperson.

[Catch 22]

08:11 PM on 09/16/2010

Let me see how I can put this delicately. The Bull standing behind her is rather large. You don't suppose he could be the father of her offspring, do you?

[LeftLeanWing]

03:27 AM on 09/17/2010

I was thinking the same thing....

Maybe the two lovebirds figured out a way for the daddy bull to get on its back and the little missus has her way.

[charles116]

06:24 PM on 09/16/2010

I suppose she only gives pints?

[Ozark Homesteader]

10:23 AM on 09/17/2010

Dexters are known for giving 2/3 the milk of larger breeds but using 1/2 or less the resources!

[furby4]

12:52 AM on 09/18/2010

or maybe for making sliders.

[FTracy3]

03:58 PM on 09/16/2010

A little dairy is good for you.