MEET OUR ANIMALS

The Nigerian Dwarf goats were originally bred in West Africa. They are popular in petting zoos due to their small size and personality. Their gentle, calm and playful nature makes them good companion pets. Their coats come in a wide variety of colors and color patterns, many even have blue eyes. They are also low-maintenance dairy goats, giving a surprising amount of high-quality, high-fat milk despite their small size. There are a growing number of people who appreciate the easy care and versatility of these goats, and they can be enjoyed both as companion animals and for profit in a dairy farm.

The Angora goat were originally bred in Turkey. Angora goats have been around a very long time, dating as far back as the 12th and 15th centuries. They are a sweet-natured goat famous for its soft fleece that produces mohair – an expensive textile that is made into sweaters, scarves, and other clothing. Every year, the adult Angora goat produces approximately 8 to 16 pounds of mohair, making this goat one of the most effective fiber-producing animals. The most common color is white, but grey, silver and red can also be found.

A new unique breed, the Miniature Silky Fainting Goat was developed in the late 1990's and early 2000's by crossing Tennessee Fainting Goats with long-haired Nigerian Dwarf goats. Most Mini Silkies exhibit varying degrees of myotonia (aka fainting), a muscle condition that causes them to stiffen or fall over when startled or overly excited. They are hardy, willing workers. They provide hours of entertainment and are social, smart and love a good scratch. They come in a variety of colors and have a long flowing coat, top knots, and beards.

Miniature Donkeys originated in the Mediterranean area of Northern An adult miniature donkey will not measure more than 36 inches tall, measured from the highest point of the withers. Africa. The Miniature Donkey is a compact, well-proportioned animal with a sweet, sociable disposition. For the most part, miniature donkeys act like regular-sized ones. They're very docile, and get extremely attached to both their human and equine pals. They can be found in a wide variety of colors and markings, including chestnut, spotted, skewbald, cream, grey, brown and black.

Miniature horses originated in Europe in the 1600s and became popular for their novel appearance. They also were used for work in mines due to their small size. They have been developed for centuries by selectively breeding small horses and ponies from a broad swath of horse and pony breeds, including the Shetland pony. Miniature horses tend to look like a full-size horse—just shrunken down in size. They’re similar in size to large dog breeds. Miniature horses have social, gentle personalities. They are easily trained and love to be around people. Due to their social nature, they make excellent pets. The calm disposition of minis makes them ideal emotional support or service animals.

Miniature Zebu Cattle are originally from the jungles of South Asia. They adapt very well to warm weather. They are known for their unique characteristic of a hump on its upper back, located right behind their head and neck. The Miniature Zebu is one of the smallest species of cattle in the world. An adult Miniature Zebu should not exceed 42 inches when measured right behind the hump. Miniature Zebu are a nice manageable size of cattle and used for lighter agricultural work. Miniature Zebu can also be used as a meat animal in some areas. They are known for being intelligent, easy-to-handle, docile, social, and gentle creatures and come in a variety of colors.

Shetland Sheep have lived on the Shetland Islands, Scotland for well over 1,000 years, adapting to the harsh environment and thriving in the cold, wet climate. These sheep of Shetland were an important part of agriculture of the islands, and the rugged habitat. Shetland sheep are calm, docile, intelligent, and have a charming disposition. Some are even said to wag their tails when petted. Their survival instincts make them an easy-care breed. The Shetland breed is especially prized for its wool, which is fine, soft, and strong. Eleven colors and thirty color patterns are recognized in the Shetland breed. This diversity is a great asset both to the breed and to the fiber artisans who enjoy using its fleeces.

KuneKune pigs originated in New Zealand. They are very easy-going and social animals. They will run to greet you when they hear you approach. They enjoy human interaction and will often plop for a belly rub. KuneKune pigs have wattles similar to goat wattles that hang just under the jowl. KuneKune pigs are mid-size pigs weighing 200-400 pounds and about the height of your knee. KuneKune means“fat and round” in the Maori language and that is exactly what they are! KuneKune pigs come in a variety of colors; ginger/black, black/ginger, ginger, cream, black/white, brown/white, and more. The combinations give them a very distinct look and sets them apart from other breeds.

Alpacas originate from South America and are bred from the wild Vicuna which is now a rare and protected species.People often confuse alpacas with llamas. While closely related, llamas and alpacas are very different animals. Llamas are much larger, about twice the size of an alpaca, with a weight range of 250 to 450 pounds. Alpacas weigh between 120 to 200 pounds. Llamas are primarily used for packing or for guarding herds of sheep or alpacas, whereas alpacas are primarily raised for their soft and luxurious fleece. Alpacas are generally social, placid animals that enjoy living in groups. They are easily trained to a halter and have a gentle non-aggressive nature. They come in a variety of colors.