Storey's Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock

by Weaver, Sue

• ISBN13: 9781603424813
• ISBN10: 1603424814
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-06
• Publisher: Storey Books

Summary

Many people want to raise cows, sheep, goats and other livestock, but they don't have the space or the time to maintain a large animal farm. Miniature livestock are the answer. Every bit as useful and adorable as their bigger counterparts, mini livestock are a great option for folks wishing to add a little bit of farm life to their backyard, or for farmers looking to diversify their livestock portfolios. Miniature livestock are so much more than their good looks. Pint-size animals can be exhibited in 4-H events and at state and county fairs, mini sheep can be raised for wool or meat, and little cattle can be milked or raised for beef, more productive per pound than their standard counterparts. Tiny horses, donkeys, cattle, and goats can be trained to pull wagons, and miniature animals work as therapy animals in schools, nursing homes, and hsopitals. While owners have different reasons for raising miniature livestock, they all share a basic need for essential, expert instruction and advice. That need is met with Storye's Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock by Sue Weaver. This is the go-to-guide that takes the mystery out of minis. Breeding, feeding, housing, diet, nutrition, exercise, as well as disease prevention and treatment -- new and experienced farmers will find everything they need to keep minis healthy and productive.

Author Biography

Sue Weaver is the author of The Donkey Companion and dozens of magazine articles on animal raising and husbandry. She is a contributing editor for Hobby Farms magazine and lives in the southern Ozark Mountains.

Table of Contents

Why Raise Miniature Livestock?	p. ix
Raising Miniature Livestock	p. 1
Before You Begin	p. 2
Lifestyle Choices
Physical and Emotional Considerations
Economic Considerations
Which Species?	p. 6
Miniature Cattle
Miniature Horses
Miniature Donkeys
Miniature Mules and Hinnies
Miniature Llamas
Miniature Goats
Miniature Sheep
Miniature Pigs
Breeder's Story
Getting Started: Education, Vets, and Where to Buy
Educate Yourself
Finding the Right Vet
Where to Buy
Breeder's Story
Selecting Miniature Livestock	p. 36
Avoiding Dwarfism
Choosing Good Pedigrees
Breeder's Story
Other Considerations
Livestock Guardians	p. 63
USDA Statistics Tell the Tale
Which Guardian Is Best?
Facilities and Fences	p. 77
Shelters Large and Small
Pens
Feeders
Watering Devices
Fences
Feeding	p. 96
All about Hay
Breeder's Story
Choosing Concentrates
Mineral Supplements and Salt
Health	p. 117
Calling the Shots
Administering Liquids and Pastes
Wound Care
Taking Vital Signs
Identifying, Preventing, and Treating the Most Common Illnesses
Dealing with Internal Parasites
Dealing with External Parasites
Identification	p. 167
Permanent Identification
Breeder's Story: Lonnie and Brenda Short
Temporary Identification
Transportation	p. 179
Stress-full Statistics
Plan Ahead
Weather Kills
Choosing a Hauling Conveyance
Working with a Livestock Transporter
Breeding	p. 189
A Breeding Stock Primer
A Short Course in Livestock
Midwifery
Bringing Up (Bottle) Baby
When Baby Won't Nurse
Got Milk?	p. 209
Milk for Your Family's Table
Getting Started with Dairy Stock
Milking Basics
Processing Tasty Milk
Raw versus Pasteurized?
Save Some for Later
The Business End	p. 220
The Big Billboard in the Sky
Every Good Business Needs a Card
Say It with Flyers and Brochures
Creative Ideas That Won't Break the Bank
The Species	p. 237
Miniature Cattle	p. 238
Getting Started with Miniature Cattle
Think like a Cow
The Breed You Need
Breeder's Story
Miniature Equines	p. 270
Think, like an Equine
Miniature Horses
The Horse or Pony-Breed You Need
Breeder's Story
Miniature Donkeys
Breeder's Story
Miniature Mules (and Hinnies)
Breeder's Story
Starting with Miniature Equines
Foaling Miniature Equines
Miniature Goats	p. 302
Getting into Goats
Think like a Goat
The Breed You Need
Breeder's Story
Miniature Llamas	p. 331
Llama, Alpaca, or What?
Llamas at a Glance
Fiber Types, Not Breeds
Getting into Miniature Llamas
Breeder's Story
Miniature Pigs	p. 352
The Pet Pig Boom of the 1980s and 1990s
Think like a Pig
Getting into Pigs
Breeding
The Breed You Need
Breeder's Story
Miniature Sheep	p. 377
Getting into Sheep
Think like a Sheep
The Breed You Need
Breeder's Story
Appendix: Emergency Euthanasia	p. 404
Resources	p. 406
Glossary	p. 422
Index	p. 435
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.