Periodically, and for no apparent reason, the most unlikely people seem to fall in love with a particular type of animal which then develops a cult following. In the world of pigs, these have included the KuneKune (Jonathan Ross has owned them) and the Vietnamese Pot-Bellied (George Clooney is a famous former owner). A decade or so ago, it became fashionable for some to own a micro pig and, while there is nothing wrong with keeping such an animal — in the correct way — there is always the danger that unscrupulous breeders will attempt to jump on the bandwagon whenever a particular type of animal’s popularity becomes apparent. Caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware. Beware of buying a pig in a poke, in fact.
Did you know...?
To be officially recognised as miniature, a donkey (sometimes referred to as a Mediterranean donkey) has to measure no more than 36in. In contrast, Derrick, a five-year-old donkey living at the Radcliffe Sanctuary in Lincolnshire, stood at 5ft 7in in April 2019 and, with a little more growing to do, was set to become the tallest donkey in the world.
The Falabella is considered the original miniature horse. It originated in Brazil in the mid-19th century. Confusingly, while it has pony dimensions, it is usually referred to as a ‘horse’
To qualify as miniature, a llama must be no more than 38in at the front withers (or shoulder height) at the age of three. That makes it about threequarters of the size of a standard llama, but still a little larger than a standard alpaca.
Pygmy goats came from the Cameroon Valley in Africa and were first imported to various countries during the 1950s.
Rosecombs are said to be one of the oldest true bantam breeds. King Richard III was a keen fancier after being given a pen of them by an innkeeper.
A PIG IN A POKE
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
Who knew that honey bees are the best builders? Nicola Bradbear from Bees for Development reveals how they build their parallel wax combs with extraordinary accuracy
Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century