![]() ![]() They can look a lot like Scottish Highland Cattle and are from the same genus, but they are two separate species. Yaks are bright and personable, gentle and beautiful. YaksĪnd my personal favorite small farm animal, the Yak. They can grow large, long horns like Texas Longhorns, but they are much smaller. Scottish Highland Cattle are furry bundles of love. Zebu can be raised in many temperate climates, despite their exotic sounding name. Belties run about 300-400 pounds, much under the 800-1,000 pounds that many other cattle breeds can grow to. They are typically black on each end (although they can also be red) and white in the middle. These iconic cattle are the Oreo cookie of cows. If you’re looking for smaller cattle breeds, you might want to try Belties or Belted Galloways. This list of smaller livestock is definitely the way to go. And although I was raised with Holsteins, they would not be a good choice for small farm animals. I was raised on a dairy farm in East Central Minnesota, so it comes as no wonder that cattle would be on my mind. And they can be good milk producers as well. They are smaller as well, often under 25 inches tall. Dwarf NubianĪnother good choice would be a Dwarf Nubian. Even though they run small at 21 inches average, they can produce a half a gallon of milk a day. This means that they prefer to eat twigs and branches rather than grass, as say a cow would. They are great milk producers and excellent foragers. Dwarf Nigerian Pygmiesįor smaller milk goats, you really can’t beat Dwarf Nigerian Pygmy Goats. More, when I think of goats, I think milk and forage. I don’t think of goats as a meat animal, although they certainly can be used for such. Goats are great small farm animals, and can also be dual purpose. All chickens, smaller breeds included, are great for turning the soil, eating bugs and keeping scattered grain from becoming a pest. They are cocky (pun intended!) and bright and very loyal to their owners. If you’re looking for a small chicken with attitude, then Seramas may be a good choice. They can often withstand winters some larger birds may not. Aside from producing beautiful green and blue eggs, they are docile and hardy. Crossbred from Auracanas, these birds have become staple small farm animals. If you’re looking for a dual purpose chicken in a smaller size, check out Americaunas. ![]() Did I mention chickens are a great natural snake repellent? Americaunas They can still be good egg producers, but may not yield much for meat. Going down the line, Bantams and Silkies are among the smallest. Starting from the largest chickens, the Rex Goliath and Brahmas are the biggest birds you’ll find. ![]() They can be just as courageous if not more so. Many of the smaller versions of the original have just as much heart, if not more. Also, don’t think that smaller means weaker. Hence, it pays to know what you’re looking for. For example, mini horses are just that, smaller horses. ![]() Smaller animals can be compact versions of the original or they can be a different breed altogether. And since my new place is a modest half acre, I knew small was the way to go. Also, I knew I wanted chickens, a few goats, and maybe a cow. I’m in my 50’s and work full time, so a lot of large animals would take up much of my free time. When I finally decided it was time to buy a place of my own, I decided that a smaller homestead was what I wanted. So from cattle to goats to chickens to donkeys, these small animals pack a punch. My homestead is a half acre, so the plans center around small farm animals. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |