They’re adorable. They require less food and space. They might even help cut the grass.

Besides all that, they’re the pinnacle of cuteness. Why? Because they’re miniature!

Miniature farm animals are becoming super popular. Many Americans lay down cold, hard cash to buy them.

Would you ever own a tiny donkey? How about a small cow? An itty bitty goat? You don’t have to be a real farmer. Some people farm only as a hobby. Miniature animals are good for that! They’re also good for beginner farmers.

“A lot of people don’t have access to several acres. But if they have a one-acre plot, they can keep a miniature cow or a few miniature goats,” says Brian Gazda. He runs a small farm in eastern Idaho.

The smallest versions of livestock are called micro-miniatures. These versions of bigger animals are under three feet in height. Slightly bigger miniatures measure around three-and-a half feet tall.

The craze over owning mini animals took off four years ago. Many people were spending more time at home due to restrictions around a global pandemic (a sickness that spread through most countries of the world). At first, many people started with owning chickens. Chickens are small and easy to raise. Of course, they lay those fresh eggs too. 

But buying a mini animal is not cheap. Kim Furches owns a farm in West Jefferson, North Carolina. She says her last mini donkey sold for $7,500. Before the pandemic, her farm typically sold about eight donkeys each year. Now she sells about 20. 

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind. — James 3:7

Why? God made animals useful to people in many ways. When we care well for animals, they can bless us with food, milk, meat, wool, mowing, fertilizer, and companionship.