You have some land and want to learn about raising livestock. Is it for you? There’s much to learn, including the best animals for larger acreage or more compact farms and backyards.
With firsthand experience raising animals, we discuss the importance of choosing the right animals for your space, property, time, and goals. We provide extensive information on miniature cattle, goats, pigs, and other livestock.
Before bringing animals to your hobby farm, consider:
Many homesteaders choose to raise animals for milk or meat. They may want them for a more off-the-grid lifestyle or to earn money. Others keep animals as part of a larger survival or prepping plan.
Whatever your reasons for considering them, learn what you need so you can make an informed decision.
How much does a goat cost? The answer to this question depends on several things. Main factors include breed, sex, and whether or not the goat is registered. Other factors will include the age and … Read more
In a ram vs goat fight, there’s a good chance that the ram comes out on top. This is because rams tend to be bulkier in size and, in many cases, stronger. These are just … Read more
Why do goats faint when they are startled? As you can imagine, every animal is born with a fight or flight instinct, and for prey animals like goats, the flight instinct is often stronger than … Read more
It might sound strange to many city folks, but learning how to milk a sheep can be a highly profitable skill to acquire. While there are many different kinds of milk today, from almond milk … Read more
Ouessant sheep, known by many other names, including Ushant, Mouton d’Ouessant, and Breton Island Dwarf, is a dwarf sheep breed originating from the Ile d’Ouessant, which is a small island just off the coast of … Read more
Columbia sheep were bred specifically for their fine wool production capabilities. They also produce excellent meat. It’s considered lean and succulent. Being dual purpose, many hobby farmers choose Columbias to help them reach their productivity … Read more
There are few beef cattle breeds so resilient and disease-resistant as Ongole cattle. This hardy breed is mostly found in India and comes from the Ongole region. There are several good reasons why this breed … Read more
Here I explain how often do goats go into heat and the signs. As a goat keeper, knowing when goats are in heat will allow you to either get your does bred, hopefully resulting in … Read more
On average, how long do pigs live? The answer to such a question in regards to any animal, not just pigs, is often dependent on a number of factors. Some of the key determinants of … Read more
Have you ever wondered how cold is too cold for goats and how to keep goats warm in winter? While they are technically cold-hardy animals that can survive low temperatures, some temperatures are unhealthy for … Read more
Learning how to get rid of hay belly in goats could help make your herd healthier. Although not quite as deadly as goat bloat, hay belly can be a nuisance and, without the right remedy, … Read more
There are a lot of skills that go into raising healthy goats. Learning how to trim goat hooves happens to be one of those necessary skills. Goat hooves are made of keratin, just like human … Read more
Here I explain how much does a sheep cost. Many factors go into determining the price of livestock. Some of them include: Factors such as sheep breed and age play a big role in determining … Read more
Red Wattle pigs, also known as Red Pigs, Red Wattle or Red Wattle hogs, are a pig breed that is unique to North America. That makes this pig extremely valuable genetically as a heritage breed … Read more
As a sheep farmer, there’s a good chance that you want your sheep flock to grow in numbers for one reason or another. As such, asking yourself questions such as “how long are sheep pregnant?” … Read more
Barbados sheep, also known as the Barbados blackbelly sheep or just the Blackbelly sheep, is a domestic breed of sheep from Barbados. Raised mainly for its meat production capabilities, this breed of sheep can easily … Read more
Raising feeder pigs is one of the most profitable farming endeavors, provided you manage it correctly. Part of proper management involves acquiring the right kind of knowledge. This calls for answering questions such as what … Read more
Even though the American Sheep Industry Association only recognizes 47 different breeds of sheep in the country, there are about 1,000 worldwide. The fat tailed sheep represent about 25% of the world’s sheep population. The … Read more
Texels are easy to raise, highly adaptable, muscular, and like all sheep, need to be kept in a small flock. Don’t raise just one; they are social animals and also use each other for protection … Read more
There are several good reasons fly control for cattle is important. Flies are pests that are not only bothersome to both cattle and humans but actually carry diseases. Biting flies can carry a multitude of … Read more