THIS CHAPTER WILL COMPARE SPECIES and present basic information so that you can choose which species best suits your needs and resources. See section 2 for more in-depth information about the species you select. Whether you keep farm animals for pleasure, food, or profit, there are miniature livestock options designed for every pocketbook, lifestyle, and taste. Which of them beckon to you?
When choosing the species and breeds you might like to raise, factor in personal preference; time constraints; ease of handling; space, fencing, and facilities needed to maintain the species; start-up costs; and profit potential. The chart on pages 8 to 11 may help.
Hobby farmers seeking a diminutive, moderately priced, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy heritage breed (see box on pages 16 and 17) choose Dexters. Dexter cows stand 36 to 42 inches (91 to 107 cm) tall and tip the scales at roughly 750 pounds (340 kg); bulls can be 2 inches (5 cm) taller than cows. The Dexter is a good dual-purpose breed: steers dress out at a respectable 55 to 60 percent live weight, and cows give one to three gallons of 4 percent butterfat milk per day. And Dexters are fairly readily available in North America.
Where’s the beef? On miniature steers! Pint-size Herefords registered with the American Hereford Association come in miniature (43 inches [109 cm] and under) and classic (44 to 48 inches [112 to 122 cm]) sizes. Stockier and shorter-legged than everyday Herefords, they mature 20 percent faster and dress out at 65 percent live weight. At 40 to 70 percent less than the size of standard Angus, Lowlines require one-third the amount of feed to produce 70 percent as much rib-eye, and Lowlines dress out at up to 75 percent live weight.
If it’s milk you want, miniature Jerseys are a good choice. Only 38 to 42 inches (97 to 107 cm) tall and weighing 600 to 650 pounds (272 to 295 kg), miniature Jersey cows give two to four gallons of butterfat-rich milk every day — enough for most families and then some.
Or choose Miniature Zebus, Miniature Highlands, Miniature Longhorns, or any of the array of cattle breeds created by Richard Gradwohl of the International Miniature Cattle Breeds Registry. Prices vary widely based on breed, availability (expect to be put on a waiting list), quality, age, and sex.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A SPECIES
Once the playthings of royalty and the ultra-rich, today’s miniature horses are priced within the means of people with moderate incomes.
Miniature horses are registered by the American Miniature Horse Association, which requires mature AMHA horses to measure 34 inches (86 cm) and under, and the American Miniature Horse Registry, which registers in two divisions: 34 inches (86 cm) or less and 34 to 38 inches (86–97 cm) in height. It’s best to buy breeding stock recorded with both groups; other factors being of equal quality, the tiniest minis, the flashiest individuals (pintos, Appaloosas, Pintoloosas), and the double-registered horses sell dearer than the rest.
Size, type, training (minis make outstanding driving horses, singly or in tandem), show record, color, and bloodlines play a big part in determining mini horse prices, so if you plan to breed to show a profit, study the market before you invest. Depending on your needs, you could spend $200 or $20,000 for a mini horse and in both cases get precisely the horse of your dreams.
Or consider breeds less frequently encountered in North America, such as Falabella miniature horses from Argentina (most are also registered with one or both of the American miniature horse registries listed above), British Shetland ponies from the United Kingdom, or Caspian horses from Iran.
In 1958, Bea Langfeld of Danby Farm in Nebraska incorporated the Miniature Donkey Registry (MDR) to record the pedigrees of Sicilian and Sardinian imports and their offspring. Ownership eventually passed to the American Donkey and Mule Society (ADMS), which still maintains the original MDR stud-books. More than 40,000 miniature donkeys measuring 36 inches (91 cm) and under at the withers have been duly recorded. Another group, the International Miniature Donkey Registry (IMDR), records donkeys in two divisions: Class A (36 inches [91 cm] and under) and Class B (36.1 to 38 inches [91.7–97 cm] tall). The American Council of Spotted Asses registers spotted miniature donkeys of all sizes.
Mini donkeys are arguably the world’s most charming pets. Most are hefty enough to pull an adult or several children in a cart or to pack up to 50 pounds (22 kg) of camping gear. They’re a hit at parades, and donkey and mule shows offer a wide array of classes for bantam brayers.
Miniature donkey prices vary widely, from $200 or so for an unregistered, plain-Jane gelding to $7,500 or more for a well-bred young jack or jennet with a show record, popular bloodlines, and color du jour. Tinier donkeys tend to garner the most cash.
Miniature mules are created by breeding miniature donkey jacks to miniature horse mares; miniature hinnies (they are much rarer beasts) are the offspring of miniature stallions and miniature donkey jennets. The American Miniature Mule Society and the American Donkey and Mule Society both register miniature mules and hinnies; the American Council of Spotted Asses registers spotted mules and hinnies of all sizes.
Miniature mules and hinnies can do anything miniature donkeys do, and they’re crowd pleasers wherever they go. Not a lot of folks are breeding these winsome creatures — yet. If you love equines and want something different, miniature mules might be just the thing.
Some folks think miniature llamas and alpacas are one and the same, but they aren’t. Llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna pacos) both belong to the Lama genus of the Camelid family, but they are two separate species.
The American Miniature Llama Association is allied with the International Llama Registry, the governing body that registers llamas of all sizes.
For a llama to be registered with the American Miniature Llama Association, it must also be registered with the International Llama Registry, three years of age or older, and no more than 38 inches (97 cm) tall (foundation stock llamas can be 38.1 to 40 inches [96.7–102 cm]). Immature llamas are conditionally registered until they turn three, but they will be officially registered only if they stand 36 inches or smaller, their mothers are registered miniature or foundation stock llamas, and their sires are registered miniature llamas.
Miniature llamas make fine pets; many yield wonderful fiber; and major llama shows host classes for “vest-pocket” llamas. The future of tiny camelids seems rosy. Fewer than 1,000 llamas in the United States meet American Miniature Llama Association standards and not all of those are registered, which means finding breeding stock can be difficult indeed.
Whether you choose tiny mini goats like plump, perky Pygmies or svelte, colorful Nigerian Dwarfs — or slightly larger miniatures like Kinders, Pygoras, and Miniature Dairy Goat Association breeds, you’re sure to fall in love with these fey and charming creatures.
Consider the familiar, friendly Pygmy, a short-legged, meat-type goat descended from dwarf stock imported from West Africa in the 1950s. Just 16 to 23 inches (41 to 58 cm) tall, good-natured, gregarious Pygmies make huggable, fun-loving pets. A bonus: Lactating Pygmy does give about a quart of rich, 6 to 10 percent butterfat milk per day — enough for a small family’s table.
Nigerian Dwarf does give up to twice as much milk as the Pygmies. Elegant, refined, and with good dairy conformation, Nigies can be up to 23 inches (58 cm) tall, and they come in a staggering array of colors and patterns; some even have pretty blue eyes. The American Dairy Goat Association, the American Goat Society, and the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association register these minute caprine cuties.
Pygora and Kinder goats were developed using Pygmy goat crosses — the former with Angora goats to create miniatures with marketable, soft fleeces and the latter with Nubians to create a scaled-down, dual-purpose meat and dairy goat breed. Nigora fiber goats are Nigerian Dwarf and Angora goat crosses.
Miniature goats come in an array of shapes, sizes, and coat types, such as smooth-coated Mini-Nubians, hairy Pygmies, and Pygora fiber goats.
Breeders developed the Miniature Dairy Goat Association breeds (Mini-Alpines, Mini-LaManchas, Mini-Nubians, Mini-Oberhaslis, Mini-Saanens, and Mini-Toggenbergs) by crossing standard-size purebreds with Nigerian Dwarf goats. All produce about two-thirds as much milk as a standard dairy goat while consuming one-third as much feed. Preferred heights are 21 to 25 inches (53–64 cm) for does and 23 to 27 inches (58–69 cm) for bucks.
Unregistered pet-quality miniature goats, especially wethers (castrated males) and bucklings (immature intact males), can be purchased for $100 or less in some locales, but expect to spend from $300 to $1,000 and up for quality registered breeding stock from certified, disease-free herds.
Kept for pets, fleece, or meat, petite Shetlands and Soay, teddy bear–faced Baby-doll Southdowns, and elegant Miniature Cheviots are among the most versatile and productive breeds of small farm sheep.
RAISING HERITAGE BREEDS
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the promotion and protection of more than 150 breeds of livestock and poultry. Now in its third decade of service, it’s the primary organization in the United States working to conserve rare breeds and genetic diversity in heritage livestock.
The ALBC breeds that are included in its Conservation Priority List fall into the following categories:
Critical. Breeds that have fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and whose global population is estimated at less than 2,000.
Threatened. Breeds that have fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the United States and whose global population is estimated at less than 5,000.
Watch. Breeds with fewer than 2,500 annual registrations in the United States and a global population estimated at less than 10,000. Breeds that present genetic or numeric concerns or that have limited geographic distribution are also included.
Recovering. Breeds that were once listed in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are still in need of monitoring.
Study. Breeds that are of genetic interest but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.
Several of the miniature livestock breeds showcased in this book are old-fashioned heritage breeds listed as Critical or Threatened breeds by the ALBC, including cattle registered by the Florida Cracker Cattle Association and the Pineywoods Cattle Registry and Breeders Association; Caspian horses; Myotonic (fainting) and San Clemente Island goats; and Ossabaw Island and Guinea hogs. Others, like Highland and Dexter cattle, Nigerian Dwarf goats, Shetland sheep, and Miniature Mediterranean donkeys, are listed as Recovering breeds. These breeds all need the help of dedicated breeders if they’re to survive.
Other organizations at home and abroad are dedicated to promoting and protecting rare breeds, among them the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (UK), Rare Breeds Trust of Australia, New Zealand Rare Breeds, Rare Breeds Canada, and the Equus Survival Trust. All field inquiries from new, potential breeders. Check the resources section for contact details.
The Soay is an ancient breed shaped by nature on the Isle of Soay in the St. Hirta archipelago, 41 miles off the windswept coast of Scotland, where it has dwelled since Neolithic times. The lithe, lean, elfin sheep stand about 22 inches (56 cm) tall. Mature rams weigh 85 to 90 pounds (38–41 kg), and ewes run about 30 pounds (14 kg) lighter.
Shetlands descend from sheep carried to the Shetland Islands by Viking settlers during the first millennium AD. They come in a startling array of colors and patterns. Rams tip the scale at 90 to 125 pounds (41–57 kg); ewes weigh 75 to 100 pounds (34–45 kg).
Babydoll Southdowns are the traditional British Southdowns of yore (after World War II, the British Southdowns were crossed with larger animals to satisfy the hunger for larger cuts of meat). The woolly, sweet faces of these short, chunky sheep endear them to most everyone they meet. Colors include off-white, black (often fading to gray), and spotted. Babydoll Southdowns stand 18 to 24 inches (46–61 cm) tall.
As Babydolls are to modern Southdowns, Miniature and Classic Cheviots are to British Border Cheviots of the nineteenth century and before. They may be black (usually fading to gray or tan), white, and even spotted. Easy-care, wool-free faces and legs; elegant arched profiles; and erect, horselike ears are their hallmarks. Naturally polled Miniature and Classic Cheviots are strongly built, broad, and short-legged, ideally standing 24 inches (61 cm) tall or less.
Miniature pigs fall into two categories: pets (Kunekunes and Potbellied pigs) and heritage swine (Guinea Hogs and Ossabaw Island Hogs) — though the heritage swine make fine pets, too.
Potbellies descend from the Í breed of Vietnam. Most purebred Potbellies run 80 to 200 pounds (36–91 kg) and stand 18 to 36 inches (46–91 cm) tall at three to four years of age. Piglets can be housetrained, but indoor pig parenting is not for the faint of heart. Many former house pigs languish in rescue facilities and pig sanctuaries awaiting adoption. Rescued and surrendered pigs make fine pets, and many such pigs need homes, so please consider adoption before purchasing a Potbellied piglet.
The new pet pig in North America is New Zealand’s Kunekune, a cute, colorful, hairy pig with an upturned snout. Many have wattles (also called tassels or pire pire) dangling from their lower jaws. Big ones stand 30 inches (76 cm) tall and weigh up to 250 pounds (113 kg); most are considerably smaller. They are gaining in popularity but are still rare.
Two of the critically endangered breeds listed by the ALBC are miniature pigs: Guinea Hogs and Ossabaw Island Hogs. Guinea Hogs (also called Guinea Forest Hogs) originated on the Guinea coast of Africa. They were carried to the American South with slave traders, where they were once common farmstead pigs. Guinea Hogs are black and hairy and stand 15 to 20 inches (38–51 cm) tall. Ossabaw Island Hogs descend from Spanish pigs brought to Ossabaw Island (off the Georgia coast) during the 1600s. They are hairy, long-snouted pigs. Wild ones weigh about 100 pounds (45 kg); they grow somewhat larger in captivity. Both breeds need help if they’re to survive.
