Backyard chickens were all the rage with urbanites during the Covid-19 pandemic. For some, those chickens acted as a sort of gateway drug that spurred a craze for other farm animals, only in miniature form. Breeders say the rising popularity of these mini versions is driven in part by a similar rise in the “country” lifestyle, as well as an increase in people looking for “exotic” pets.
The smaller size of miniature breeds is of course, a good fit for folks that have smaller plots of land, as well as those that may be new to keeping livestock. While many fans of the scaled-down versions keep them simply as pets, some are using them to start their own petting zoo attractions or animal therapy practices. Some farmers are likewise finding that raising these miniatures is a good and profitable niche amid the growing demand.
It’s probably no surprise that miniature goats are the most popular among pint-sized animal enthusiasts. According to the Associated Press (AP), the Miniature Dairy Goat Association has seen a +73% jump in registrations this year to 8,330 versus under 5,000 three years ago. Price-wise, registered, purebred miniature goats such as myotonic, Nigerian Dwarf, or Pygmy can go for as much as $500-$1,000, or even more if it’s a champion bloodline. Unregistered goats, on the other hand, can be as cheap as $20, though more typically closer to $100.
Teensy cows, horses, and donkeys also have a growing fan base, as well as swelling prices. One breeder in Missouri, Allie Sine of Mini Moos LLC., said she started her mini cow business in 2020 after she got $5,000 for one that she’d only paid $350 for. She sells both mini and “micro mini” cows (under 3 feet high) that sell for $2,000 to as much as $30,000. Sine told the AP she sold 190 calves last year.
Similarly, a miniature donkey breeder that AP talked to in North Carolina says their business has exploded since the pandemic. While they used to sell about eight of their Mediterranean miniature donkeys a year, that’s more than doubled to around 20 now. Average prices start at about $7,500 but can be over $9,000, depending on the animal.
I did not know that miniature llamas were a thing but they have apparently been around for a couple of decades now. The unofficial standard is under 38“ at the shoulders and under 40” for females. The average weight is about 200 pounds so they are still large animals, but petite compared to a standard adult llama that can weigh over 400 pounds.
Everyone likely knows what a petting zoo is but the “animal therapy” service that some miniature animals are used for might be less familiar. Basically, it refers to using animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions. The approach has been increasingly embraced by doctors to help treat and comfort patients with conditions ranging from PTSD and depression to Alzheimer’s and autism, to name just a few.
A number of organizations train handlers and connect them to healthcare providers. Before getting approval for therapy use, both the animal and the handler have to go through various certifications, which can take anywhere from weeks to years. There are fewer hoops to jump through for “therapeutic visitation” animals, in which owners take their animals to visit healthcare facilities. These animals are not specifically assistance trained but typically still need some sort of certification. Animals and their owners used to assist in other, more specialized therapies require more training and certifications. (Sources: Associated Press, Seattle Times, Grit)
