A cow whose tiny stature saved her from the abattoir has entered the record books as the world's smallest, reported BBC News. Swallow, a Dexter cow from Cheshire, stands 33.5in (0.8m) tall from hind to foot - shorter than most sheep. The 11-year-old, who is currently pregnant, has produced nine calves and is described by owner Caroline Ryder as the “nanny of the herd”. Swallow secured a slot with the tallest dog, longest snake and oldest gorilla in the 2011 Guinness World Records. The tiny cow was born in Newbury, Berkshire in 1999 and bought by the Ryder family at a rare breed auction in 2006. The family approached Guinness after noticing a posting on a Dexter cattle forum from someone looking for the smallest cow. After putting her name forward last year, Guinness confirmed the record a few months ago. Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, said the tiny cow was one of his personal favourites among the 3,000 new records. “It's been a fantastic year for record breaking,” he said. The updated edition of the book, published Thursday, also records a host of new British record breakers.
