Whether you are raising miniature livestock for meat, milk, or fiber, or keeping them as show animals or pets, you need essential, expert instruction and advice. Storey’s Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock, by Sue Weaver, is the go-to-guide that takes the mystery out of minis. Breeding, feeding, housing, nutrition, and exercise, as well as disease prevention and treatment — this comprehensive guide has everything that new and experienced farmers need to keep minis healthy and productive.
Storey's Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
The Super-Size Guide to Miniature Animals
Miniature farm animals have so much more to offer than their adorable appearance. Exhibit pint-size animals at fairs and 4-H events, raise mini sheep for wool or meat, milk little cows and goats, and train tiny horses, donkeys, and mules to pull wagons or work as therapy animals. Whatever your interest in minis, this reliable resource guides you through choosing, caring for, training, and breeding mini horses, donkeys, mules, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and llamas.
Why choose miniature animals over full-size?
- Minis thrive on less land.
- Feed and housing costs are significantly lower.
- Handling small animals (hoof trimming, shearing, milking) is easier and safer.
- Minis are profitable! There is a thriving market for the small animals you breed.
About the Author
Sue Weaver is Storey’s expert on keeping livestock as productive backyard pets. Her previous titles include The Backyard Goat, The Backyard Cow, The Donkey Companion, and Storey’s Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock. She and her husband run a farmette in the southern Ozarks in Arkansas.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Rebecca
Format:Hardcover
If you are looking for the joy of animals with a lower feeding cost and space requirements, here is your guide. And what is cuter than a mini? This book is packed with useful and interesting information about miniature sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, goats, and pigs. You will know everything you need to about selecting, feeding, housing, vetting, and enjoying your small livestock. In addition, this book presents the sometimes harsh realities of livestock ownership and addresses the ethical issues of over-breeding and preservation of rare breeds.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have several of Sue Weaver's books, and I have grown to trust her on most subjects pertaining to animal care. This is another example of her work, which I have always found to be clearly and simply written, factual, and nicely toned (there are few things more offensive than reading a 'how to' guide in which the author clearly feels his audience is beneath him; Ms. Weaver, as always, comes across in a friendly and instructive manner without being condescending)
This book is split into two sections: Raising Miniature Livestock and The Species. Each section is then divided into chapters. The first second is, as it is aptly titled, about raising minis. The chapters in the first section are as follows:
1 Before You Begin (basically about whether you are really ready and able to have livestock, mini or otherwise)
2 Which Species? (the title is self-evident, but, basically, the chapter compares the different miniatures available, and helps you choose which you are interested in learning more about--Section 2 of the book covers the individual species more throughly)
3 Getting Started: Education, Vets, and Where to Buy (information everyone needs to consider in preperation for any animal)
4 Selecting Miniature Livestock (This chapter helps you learn what to look for as far as healthy minis go. It also delves into the genetic issue of Dwarfism.)
5 Livestock Guardians
6 Facilities and Fences (goes over what kind of housing your livestock will need)
7 Feeding ( I did not realize before I picked up this book that miniature goats, sheep, and the rest of them have different food needs than their full-sized cousins (other than the obvious difference in porportion). But Ms. Weaver explains the different needs that Minis have)
8 Health (a very, very basic primer on healthcare, things you must know, such as worming and taking care of wounds)
9 Identification (about permanent/temporary tagging)
10 Transportation (helps you get your stock from point A to B with minimal stress and danger to all concerned)
11 Breeding (basically, how to get baby minis and a little on how to care for baby)
12 Got Milk? (fairly self-evident, but a start on dairying your minis...but you'll need more than this book if you really want to get started in that)
13 The Business End (How to market your minis so they at least pay their way)
Section Two covers each of the livestock included (Mini Cattle, Horses, Donkeys, Mules, Goats, Llamas, and Sheep). This includes a section of photographs (though all the pictures are together, not spread out through the book)
I found most of the information to be reliable and fair. Sue Weaver loves most animals (especially donkeys) and you can tell when reading her work.
There is one little issue, though I do not hold this againist Ms. Weaver, as she is not the photographer, is that there is a photo of a goat in this book that is also in Storey's Guide to Livestock Breeds, and which the books each classify differently. I don't know how this came about, but since it is not the author's fault, one can hardly hold her accountable.
All in all, I suggest this book if you are new to the miniature world. Some of the information is something that someone with a little experience wouldn't need, but it is great for beginners,and even the experienced can learn something useful!
This book is split into two sections: Raising Miniature Livestock and The Species. Each section is then divided into chapters. The first second is, as it is aptly titled, about raising minis. The chapters in the first section are as follows:
1 Before You Begin (basically about whether you are really ready and able to have livestock, mini or otherwise)
2 Which Species? (the title is self-evident, but, basically, the chapter compares the different miniatures available, and helps you choose which you are interested in learning more about--Section 2 of the book covers the individual species more throughly)
3 Getting Started: Education, Vets, and Where to Buy (information everyone needs to consider in preperation for any animal)
4 Selecting Miniature Livestock (This chapter helps you learn what to look for as far as healthy minis go. It also delves into the genetic issue of Dwarfism.)
5 Livestock Guardians
6 Facilities and Fences (goes over what kind of housing your livestock will need)
7 Feeding ( I did not realize before I picked up this book that miniature goats, sheep, and the rest of them have different food needs than their full-sized cousins (other than the obvious difference in porportion). But Ms. Weaver explains the different needs that Minis have)
8 Health (a very, very basic primer on healthcare, things you must know, such as worming and taking care of wounds)
9 Identification (about permanent/temporary tagging)
10 Transportation (helps you get your stock from point A to B with minimal stress and danger to all concerned)
11 Breeding (basically, how to get baby minis and a little on how to care for baby)
12 Got Milk? (fairly self-evident, but a start on dairying your minis...but you'll need more than this book if you really want to get started in that)
13 The Business End (How to market your minis so they at least pay their way)
Section Two covers each of the livestock included (Mini Cattle, Horses, Donkeys, Mules, Goats, Llamas, and Sheep). This includes a section of photographs (though all the pictures are together, not spread out through the book)
I found most of the information to be reliable and fair. Sue Weaver loves most animals (especially donkeys) and you can tell when reading her work.
There is one little issue, though I do not hold this againist Ms. Weaver, as she is not the photographer, is that there is a photo of a goat in this book that is also in Storey's Guide to Livestock Breeds, and which the books each classify differently. I don't know how this came about, but since it is not the author's fault, one can hardly hold her accountable.
All in all, I suggest this book if you are new to the miniature world. Some of the information is something that someone with a little experience wouldn't need, but it is great for beginners,and even the experienced can learn something useful!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Health and identification chapters are specific, in-depth and key to any farm library
June 18, 2010
Format:Paperback
Raising Miniature Livestock is a fine survey of how to raise miniature farm animals. Such animals thrive on less land and cost far less to raise: chapters tell how to choose, care for, and train and breed everything from miniature horses and donkeys to pigs, sheep, goats and llamas. Health and identification chapters are specific, in-depth and key to any farm library.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fixin' to Buy a Mini Jersey
I wanted to learn about raising small livestock that I could handle on my own (I'm old). Lots of dependable information. Storey's are always good sources for beginners. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Faith Colleen Carr
4.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for new farmers needing a guide
We moved to the country and wanted small farm animals for the kids and for use. This book guided us through all kinds of small animals and information on each. Read more
Published on April 22, 2011 by John vickery
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