Best livestock for the tiny farm

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Trying to figure out the best animals to have on an a 2-acre farm.

[edit] Requirements

  • minimal feed requirements: don't want to buy in hay or grain
  • maximum manure production: to use for direct spreading on the market garden, and for composting
  • winter-hardy: can deal with the coldest nights (southern Ontario, -20C/-4F,) minimal winter protection

[edit] Candidates

  • cows: not enough pasture (maybe for a couple), need lots of hay in winter
  • Chickens: good, manure, eggs, meat, move around in a chicken tractor, need feed, especially in winter
  • goats: need hay in winter
  • sheep: need hay in winter, need shelter in northern winter (three walls and roof at least), good on pasture (4 sheep per acre), need shearing once per year
  • llamas
  • pigs
  • alpacas would also be good, especially geldings. you would have fabulous fiber from them, you can pasture up to 8 per acre, they do NOT eat the grass to the ground as sheep do, use communal dung piles for easy cleanup, and the manure is fabulous. they 'say' the manure can be used as is and doesn't burn plants, but I would definitely compost it first. good luck!
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