The World's BIGGEST Cow
27th April 2006
Meet Rio the Charolais cow, a six-foot pedigree who could stampede into the record books as the BIGGEST ever.

This far-from-dainty lady weighs a whopping 2,690lb (1.25 tons) and could provide enough steaks to feed a small army - not to mention 3,500 beefburgers and 7,500 sausages.

Although owners Beth and Andrew White wouldn't consider such a grisly, but tasty, fate for their six-year-old prize cow - she is worth far too much alive. The 11ft-long animal is currently valued at £20,000 and is producing pedigree calves at a rate of one a year - the latest was born on Monday.

Weighing the same as a large adult rhinoceros, she eats the equivalent of a tenth of her body weight every week and drinks up to 25 gallons of water every day.

Jane Haw, 40, who is the manager of White's Farm at Worth Matravers, Dorset, and who bred Rio, said: "She is the biggest Charolais I've seen. She is quite a softy really and likes to be scratched and tickled, but can be a bit bolshie and will push you out of the way to get to her food. "When I lead her around at shows people are amazed somebody so small can control her, but she respects me.''

The world record for the largest living cow is currently unclaimed, although the largest ever was an American Holstein-Durham cross called Mount Katahdin which died in 1923. The beast was a towering 6ft 2in at the shoulder and had a girth of 13ft. Charolais are the largest breed of cattle, bred for their beef and can be worth over £55,000. There are now approximately 30,000 living in Britain.

Picture: Charolais breeder Jane Haw(40) with 'Balbithan Rio' a pedigree Charolais, thought to be the world's largest and heaviest cow at over 5'8 and 1.25 tonnes. Charolais are the largest breed of cattle, bred for their beef and can be worth over £55,000.
Source: Rex Features

27th April 2006
Tiny Tinkerbell is the latest addition to the Dartmoor Miniature Pony Centre and Animal Farm - measuring just 20 inches high she is the smallest pony to be born at the centre.

The pint sized pony is so small that her six-year-old owner Victoria Ginsburg towers over the Shetland filly. Tinkerbell, who arrived early on Saturday morning, has taken her first steps but could easily get lost amongst the daffodils.

Victoria's mother Lisa, 43, who owns the centre with her husband Kevin, says the pony `almost looks like a toy but the children adore her.'

Tinkerbell may be tiny but she is already a big hit with visitors at the family run farm. Set in 20 acres of beautiful Dartmoor parkland, the farm has more than 150 animals and has become a favourite with animal lovers for more than 20 years.
Source: Rex Features

Dartmoor Minature Pony Centre and Animal Farm
www.miniatureponycentre.com