Pocket Farm Magazine Livestock, Page 2

Pocket Farm often features more compact breeds when it comes to livestock and this is primarily because they often suit smallholders by being easier to handle or less demanding of space and food. However, occasionally that goes by the by and wonderful temperament and manageability are wrapped ...

When you move into keeping livestock there are several considerations before buying your first animals. Clearly, if you have a commercial aim in mind or an definite end product, then ...

I had my first proper encounter with this breed on a recent visit to my local county show and I was instantly enamoured by its diminutive size and delicate frame. The Boreray is the rarest of our native breeds, in fact it’s the only one to appear in the RBST critical list with ...

According to the National Sheep Association, there are over 32 million sheep in the UK and the numbers are kept topped up every Springtime with up to 15.5million ewes giving birth. Sheep in the UK are classified into Hill, Upland and Lowland breeds; Hill breeds are those such as the Herdwick, ...

Here at Pocket Farm we believe that rabbits are one of the most versatile yet underused livestock resources by the smallholders of this country. While they are farmed extensively in many other areas of the world they are almost entirely ignored in this country. Is this because they are more ...

Goat keepers attend shows for a variety of reasons. For some it is simply a pleasant day out, giving them a chance to meet up with friends and to chat about ‘goaty’ topics as well as things in general. Others see it as an essential ...

Newcomers to breeding – for whom this section is primarily intended – will probably have scanned the internet for information, spoken to friends and other goat keepers on the topic and as a consequence, will perhaps be feeling thoroughly confused ...

Are Shetland cattle one of the best kept secrets in farming? We think they could be. Small, docile, fast growing, easy calving and hardy are just a few of the breed’s characteristics which, for smallholders in particular, will tick boxes when considering cattle. This is not just ...

Whilst running the risk of stating the obvious, a goat’s health is entirely the responsibility of the owner: this is a fact stated in law, covering all keepers of livestock. Fines for non-compliance can be quite hefty. (Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farm Animals ...

Sue Stennett is a regional representative for the Portland Breeders Group and has been keeping them for over 30 years. When asked why she chose them over the many other breeds available her reply is compelling ...