LAKE RIDGE FARM Specializing in Miniature Livestock for over 25 years
Why Miniature Livestock?
Miniature livestock can be the answer to your needs for many reasons. Their attributes and characteristics can make them the the ideal alternative in may situations. Just as their larger counterparts they can be utilized in traditional farming operations filling the same niches that the full sized animals filled. With people returning to smaller self sustaining homestead style farming, organically fed and naturally raised animals are a highly valued resource.The smaller breeds are much easier to handle and tend to be more docile in temperament, making them less intimidating to those new to farming as well.
Smaller animals are easier on the land and require less land and smaller shelter buildings to house them.
Heritage breeds are generally hardier, have better disease and parasite resistance making them easier to keep healthy with fewer chemicals and medications needed. A lot of the breeds we know as common on the farms these days were originally smaller and have been bred larger to be better producers of milk, meat and so on. Bigger is not always better or as efficient. Fans of raw milk are turning to mini-cows to produce their own; the efficiency can be startling: a miniature will eat a third of what a larger dairy cow will but produce about two-thirds the milk, they yield more meat per pound thanks to their slender bones—as much as 65 per cent that of their larger cousins. Much of what goes for the cattle can apply to the sheep and goat breeds as well.
Horses and donkeys in Miniature are just as entertaining and fun to work with as their bigger cousins. When people inquire about what can you do with a Miniature Horse/Donkey I always respond that you can do everything you can do with a bigger horse but ride them. Of course that is assuming an adult is asking the question. Some of the Miniature Horses and Donkeys that are in the upper height allowances for their breeds are most capable of being ridden by small children and make wonderful mounts for lead line classes. Not much is cuter than the costume classes held at most Miniature equine shows, handler and horse dressed up in related costumes!! So much fun!
That leads me to one of our favorite reasons to keep Miniature Livestock, they are just too darned cute!! They make the greatest pets, super for therapy animals, petting zoos, and for those with physical challenges.
Check out the rest of our pages and see if you don't end up agreeing with us!! 
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