Forum Discussion

down_home's avatar
down_home
Explorer II
May 15, 2015

Cows

i still remember the little Brama Bull that tried it's best to be my friend. It licked my shoes and hands and nuzzled me. I've encountered numerous cows and horses of course and pretty much any animal like that.
It would take some expense for a rail fence and a small barn or shelter but I've been considering a small not midget cow. I don't remember the two types I've read about but they are not any bigger than a large dog.
Maybe two, of them and maybe a small donkey, like a Neighbor down the roar raises.
The Grand Kids would go nuts. Ground is soft with a spring I need to put a long drain in otherwise I think larger animals would tear up the field. Maybe I should just get some domesticated tagged deer.
Anyone have small stock or deer like this for Pets?
  • Pawz4me wrote:
    My brother has two pet goats.

    If coyotes are a problem in your area any vulnerable livestock will need some protection. My brother adopted a Great Pyrenees to keep his goats safe. I'm sure not an expert, but I believe donkeys can be used to guard livestock, but in general it's full sized ones that are recommended. Taking on coyotes might be a bit much for a small one?



    We have about 30 goats, plus chickens 2 horses and 2 donkeys, yotes do not come around, they keep a wide berth from those donkeys. Most people in this area have donkeys with their livestock as those small sharp hooves are deadly to a yote and the donkey will not run from them..
  • down home wrote:
    .......maybe a small donkey, like a Neighbor down the roar raises.
    The Grand Kids would go nuts. Ground is soft with a spring I need to put a long drain in otherwise I think larger animals would tear up the field. Maybe I should just get some domesticated tagged deer.
    Anyone have small stock or deer like this for Pets?


    I wouldn't do Deer. Deer carry/host ticks and lyme disease. I wouldn't want that in my back yard.

    A Miniature Horse would be a nice animal to have for the grand kids and it wouldn't rip up your pasture. Just a note the mini donkeys are known to be feisty and not really safe around kids.
  • The cows got milked twice a day and the calves had to be fed. I had a few just for fun and the kids liked to help. We named them all, even the ones that we ate. It got very hard to find someone to milk 4 or 5 cows so we could go away so the cows are gone. Now we buy milk and butter but I don't have to stay home 365 days a year.
  • My brother has two pet goats.

    If coyotes are a problem in your area any vulnerable livestock will need some protection. My brother adopted a Great Pyrenees to keep his goats safe. I'm sure not an expert, but I believe donkeys can be used to guard livestock, but in general it's full sized ones that are recommended. Taking on coyotes might be a bit much for a small one?