DNG by tthe way, stands for
Dumb New Guy 
OK, let's see. When I was in college I majored in Geography with a minor in Environmental Sciences. I a lot of reading about and became concerned with, biodiversity, genetic engineering, and the stability of mankind's food chain. I am a 23 yr veteran of working Federal maximum security prisons. I get to retire in 13 months.
And at that point I am thinking about starting a small farm in the neighborhood of 10-25 acres.
Oh boy has
that changed!! It started out as a nice quiet 3-5 acres with my wife, a dog or two, and a cat. Somehow, we're up to two cats now. It started innocently enough. DW asked if we could get some chickens. I've spent the last 26 years making her as happy as I can, so of course I said ok.
Then she's at TSC picking up dog food and comes home with a copy of GRIT magazine. Wow, haven't seen that since it was a weekly paper! Cover article, milk goats. I told DW about growing up with a small herd of Nubians because one of my brothers couldn't drink cow milk. Now she wants goats, because the pictures are "so cute". Eh, why not?
I liked the goats, and there was actually something relaxing about milking them. So now we're talking more like 5-10 acres. Oh, and we have to get a donkey to guard the goats. :baby04:
But now we get to why I'm here in the COWS section. You guessed it, she wants a cow, "Just one, please, oh pretty please, P-L-E-A-S-E!"
I've pretty much made up my mind that if I allow this I'll be going with one of the miniature breeds, and preferably one that's either rare or endangered. So please enlighten a DNG.
Since we'll already be doing a goat dairy I won't need a milking breed, per se. And I want to diversify my livestock, so mini-Herefords probably aren't what I'm looking for. I'd be interested to hear from owners of both Irish Dexters and Scottish Highlands as they appear to true "old breeds".
Can these breeds earn their keep as draft animals, like mini-oxen?
How long do I have to raise one to get a worthwhile return on meat?
How many acres would I need to include a breeding pair, plus their offspring (which would mostly end up in the freezer)?
Are they true grazers, or do I have to feedlot them?
Are they a wise choice for raising pasture-fed organic beef, possibly for sale?
I'm sure more questions shall arise from time to time.
Thank you.
