Livestock basically needs room to roam and root, forage, and there are many miniature versions of standard breeds that can easily thrive on small farms. So, let’s get into the livestock, who can stay in small farms.
Pygmy Goat: Pygmy goat is a small breed with a height of 16 to 23 inches and weight is around 60 to 80 pounds. Their friendly nature makes them a popular pet among Australian livestock exports, but the breed also has a place on the farm. They are excellent in term of milk and further, it is used in cheese-making.
Talking about their characteristics they are strong breeders and their first breeding comes around 12 and 18 months. Like other livestock breeds, Pygmy goats are social and active but need ample space for exercise.
Jersey Cow: Jersey cow is mainly light brown in color with white patches. She is having a black nose bordered by an almost white muzzle. Jerseys dairy breed has the potential to produces a pound of milk components at a lower cost compared to the other major breeds.
Furthermore, she has a greater nutritional value, plus the highest yield and greater efficiency when processed into cheese and other value-added products. Milk contains more constituents in milk i.e. 18% of more protein, 20% of more calcium, 25% of more butterfat than the average milk.
If you are also impressed with the features and characteristics of jersey cattle you can import the breed from Jersey Dairy Cow exporters into your small farm.
East Friesian Sheep: The East Friesian sheep are from the US. This sheep has the highest milk production and the longest lactation. She can produce around 500 to 700 kg of milk per lactation.
Nigerian Dwarf Goat: Nigerian Dwarf Goat is basically originated in West Africa. She is 17 to 20 inches in height and weighs about 75 pounds. Both does and bucks have soft coats with short to medium hair in a number of color combinations, including black, chocolate, with black-and-white spots, and gold and white.
Nigerian Dwarf goats are great milking goats and best for small farms. She produces a surprising amount of milk for their size and the best thing is that their milk is higher in butterfat than other dairy goat breeds.
Awassi sheep: This breed is found in Jordan and is one of the best sheep breeds to the semi-arid regions of the near east countries as they were developed in a much harsher environment. Awassi sheep is one of the heaviest of milkers and can produce 40 to 80 kgs of milk per 150-day lactation period. Plus the protein content in milk is 6.05% and butterfat is 6.70%.
Miniature Cattle: Cattle breeds like Dexters, Miniature Herefords, Miniature Jerseys, and Lowlines, is best for small farms. If we talk about Dexter cattle breed, it comes in the smallest breeds weighs less than 1,000 pounds. While, Jersey is smaller versions of their standard-sized counterparts and you can import her from Jersey Dairy Cow exporters as it is also best in terms of rich, and creamy milk.
Brown Swiss: Brown Swiss breed is docile and is known for its big furry ears and for being the second most productive dairy cows. The cattle breed is originated from Switzerland and came to America in the 1860s. Brown swiss is mainly is in grey, dark brown, tan, and sometimes almost white in color and weighs about 1,300 to 1,400 pounds. They are also known for their longevity, dairy strength, and outstanding feet and legs.
Alpine Goat: This breed is a dependable goat breed but it is easy to manage and adapt quickly to climatic changes. The milk produce by them varies from breeder to breeder but they are best known as the steady producers. Their average daily milk supply is around a gallon per day and some Alpine goats also produce 2 to 3 gallons a day.
So, the above-mentioned breed is the best when it comes to a small farm for dairy purpose, you can import these breeds after measuring the land from Australian livestock exports anytime.
