Jessy Kassahn doesnt remember exactly when or where she first encountered miniature Zebu cattle, but apparently it did make an impression on some level. For approximately the past decade, she has wanted to own some.

This past December, that wait finally ended as Jessy and her mother, Margaret Kassahn, purchased five adult miniature Zebu four cows and one bull from a Spokane, Wash., breeder.

Today Jessy and Margarets herd, inhabiting a small portion of their ag acreage near Joseph, totals seven members after three of the cows calved during the past two months. The fourth cow, which lost a calf back in November, is expected to calve later this year.

Although eastern Washington wasnt far to travel to obtain initial members of her herd, Jessy believes these are the first in Wallowa County. Theyre very rare, she said.

The International Miniature Zebu Association (IMZA), based in Crawford, Neb., describes itself as home of the oldest and largest registry of miniature Zebu cattle.

Formed in 1991 at a meeting of 29 miniature Zebu owners and other people interested in the breed, currently the nonprofit corporations website lists more than 160 members. Another U.S.-based organization, the American Miniature Zebu Association, in Ferris, Texas, also registers the rare cattle breed.

Because of their characteristic hump above the shoulders, miniature Zebu resemble the better-known and much larger Brahma, but according to various sources, the little cattle were never bred down from a larger breed. Rather, the mini Zebu is regarded a natural breed, probably several thousand years old, and its origin is something of a mystery. According to IMZA, mini Zebus were first imported into the U.S. from India in the 1920s.

Under breed standards, an adult animals height, measured at the withers behind the hump, shouldnt exceed 42 inches. Mature cows should weigh 300-500 pounds; mature bulls, 400-600 pounds. Jessy says they normally live 18-20 years.

As such small cattle, they dont require much land one of the breeds most obvious benefits but mini Zebus are attractive also for a number of other reasons.

They are gentle-natured (many become pets), yield lean and tender meat, and, according to Jessy, are also good candidates for cross-breeding to produce a miniature bucking string.

We havent really decided what were going to do with them, Jessy says of the Kassahns own little herd. Theres one avenue they probably wont be taking, however.

I wont be doing meat with them, Jessy said.