beyond TRADITION

Raise these alternative animals on your hobby farm.

-  DEB BRANDT

Climate and market changes mean hobby farmers need to proactively diversify their revenue streams. One way to do that is to add alternative livestock to your farming practices.

Before selecting any livestock addition, do your homework to learn more about the animals, their care requirements, shelter, fencing and veterinary needs. You may want to explore the investment it will take to become involved as well as whether you will need special licenses or permits.

If you’re alternative livestock curious, take a look at these options.

DONKEYS

Highly intelligent, generally gentle and sociable, versatile and easy to maintain. Donkeys offer benefits to hobby farms as guardians or companion animals for small herds or flocks. Trained, they can be ridden, handled for 4-H or put to work in therapeutic roles on behalf of complex human conditions such as autism and Asperger’s.

CARE & FEEDING: Donkeys thrive on a high fiber, low protein diets obtaining most of their nutrition from a variety of mixed woody shrubs and grasses. Efficient digestion means these animals only require 6 pounds of forage per day. Overall, they need 1⁄2 acre per animal is for grazing. (Caution: Lawn cuttings and unboiled linseed is toxic to donkeys in addition to moldy foodstuffs. It’s important to research your local plants prior to adding a donkey or donkeys to your operation.)

VETERINARY CARE: Donkeys typically follow the same vaccination schedule as other equine which varies depending upon locale. They are susceptible to the same illness that affect horses including equine herpes virus, strangles, rabies, tetanus and African horse sickness. They will need annual dental care as well as hoof trimming by a farrier.