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Sunset Ridge Minis
Sunset Ridge Minis: Raising Mini Livestock
At Sunset Ridge Minis, we specialize in raising and breeding a variety of mini livestock, including registered mini pigs, micro and mini donkeys, mini Highland and HighPark cows, and Nigerian dwarf goats. With many baby animals expected in the spring and summer of 2025, we offer a unique opportunity to experience the joy of these adorable, compact creatures. We are a registered member of JPAR (Juliana Pig Association and Registry)
Welcome to Sunset Ridge Minis Farm
Juliana Mini Pigs
Highland Mini Cows
Highland Mini Cows
The Juliana Pig is a small colorful pig thought to originate in Europe through selective breeding of various kinds of pigs. The Juliana Pig, also known as the Miniature Painted Pig, is small, spotted, and conformationally sound. It should not exhibit a pronounced pot belly or sway back, should have a longer snout, and be slight in frame. Temperament is of the utmost importance since the Juliana has been specifically bred to work with humans. While the Juliana breed is reputed to be quite old it is unsubstantiated as to whether or not the modern Juliana pig is of the same ancestry. Regardless of ancestry the modern Juliana more closely resembles the description of the original Juliana then any other breed today. It is the goal of breeders to produce offspring that consistently exhibits the characteristics of the original Juliana pig.
General Appearance
The Juliana is a small, colorfully spotted pig. It more closely resembles a small version of a large hog or feral pig then it does the Pot Belly pig. It should be lean, longer than it is tall, and athletic in appearence. The Juliana should never be pudgy, heavily wrinkled, or sluggish in appearance.
Head
The most prominent feature of the head is a long straight snout that is neither turned up nor snubbed. Eyes are almond shaped, clearly visible, and can be blue to almost black. Ears are small and erect. Heavy jowls and a stubbed nose are to be discouraged.
Body
Lean and muscular, the Juliana pig should never look round or flabby. The top line should be straight and of good length. Chest and shoulders should be of medium width, neither broad nor narrow. A slight sway in the back is permissible but discouraged. Belly should be clean and firm. A slight roundness in the belly is permissible, but there should not be a 'pot belly' present. Leniency is given to sows who have produced litters.
Legs
Set well apart, straight when viewed from the front and rear. Front legs should be set under the shoulders but converge when in motion. Two toes of even length and two dewclaws on each foot. Rear legs should be set apart, but under the body. In motion the legs will converge. When viewed from the side, hocks should be set slightly back and be strong. Hocks should never be luxating or weak.
Tail
Straight when relaxed with a switch on the end. When excited or in motion the Juliana tail may curl or twist.
Color
Always spotted - the base color can be silver, white, red, rust, black, or cream. Spots are generally black but can also be red or white. Spotting should be profuse and random, not in a piebald pattern. Spotting may fade or blend in as the hair coat gets longer, but pigmentation on the skin must be visible when washed or shaved. Hair coat is coarse, thick and may be quite long in the winter.
Size
On average, the Juliana pig is 15 - 19 inches in height.
Sunset Ridge is the only breeder in the state of Kentucky recognized by, and a member of JPAR (Juliana Pig Association and Registry)
Highland Mini Cows
Highland Mini Cows
Highland Mini Cows
Mini Highland
Miniature cattle are great for small acreages. They can be anywhere to 1/2 or even 1/3 the size of standard cattle, so, therefore, require less feed and land. We encourage the ration of one miniature cow per ½ to 1-acre grass with good quality hay during the winter months.
Mini Scottish Highlands are a very hardy breed of cattle that can withstand harsh cold temperatures in the winter and hot temperatures in the summer with adequate shade and water. They tend to be docile and calm, especially the more you work with and handle them. They can make great outdoor companions, show cattle, or home-raised beef.
Miniature Highland cows are a small, hardy breed of cattle that are known for their docile, calm, and affectionate personalities. They are a popular choice for petting zoos, companion animals, and show cattle. Here is some more information about Miniature Highland cows:
- Size
Mini Highland cows are usually 36–48 inches tall at the hip and weigh up to 800 pounds. They are typically half or a third the size of standard cattle.
- Temperament
Mini Highland cows are known for being docile and calm, and they enjoy being around people and other animals.
- Origin
Mini Highland cows are native to the Scottish Highlands and are descended from one of the world's oldest cattle breeds, which originated in Scotland in the 6th century.
- Care
Mini Highland cows require less feed and land than standard cattle. They can be raised on a pasture as small as half an acre, and they do well with other bovine breeds, goats, sheep, chickens, and dogs.
- Health
Mini Highland cows are susceptible to bloating and grass tetany, a disease caused by low magnesium levels in the blood.
- Breeding
Mini Highland cows are developed through selective breeding, and the key is to breed cows that have the bovine chondrodysplasia gene (chondro positive) with cows that don't have that gene (chondro negative).
- Cost
Pricing for Mini Highland cows varies depending on sex, color, and mature size.
HighPark Cows
Highland Mini Cows
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
HighPark Breed Standard
- Must be 50% or higher percentage Scottish Highland
- Must have a primarily white body, with black, red, or dark colored points or tips
- Can be polled or horned – horned is most common and preferred for the breed
- “Micro HighPark”, if measuring under 36” inches tall to the top of the back (at the base of the tailbone)
- “Miniature HighPark”, if measuring 36.25” – 42” inches to the top of the back (at the base of the tailbone), at age 3 or older
- “Mid-size HighPark”, if measuring 42.25” – 48” inches tall at age 3 or older, to the top of the back (at the base of the tailbone), at age 3 or older
- “Full Size HighPark”, if measuring over 48” inches tall to the top of the back (at the base of the tailbone), at age 3 or older
- Sunset Ridge Farm Specialized in the Micro, Mini and Mid-Size HighPark.
What is a High Park Cow
In the early to mid 2000’s a popular cross breed of cattle hit the miniature cattle market. It was dubbed the HighPark breed, also sometimes spelled HiPark.
As the breed grows in number and popularity, it seems like an appropriate time to dive deeper into “what is a HighPark cow”.
The short answer is that a HighPark is a cross breed between a Scottish Highland and White Park.
But wait … there’s more. A HighPark must has specific coat color to qualify, otherwise it is simply a Scottish Highland / White Park cross.
The White Park breeds come in different flavors. The White Park is different than the British White Park and the American White Park. While the coloring of all 3 breeds are similar, the genetic makeup is quite different.
White Park: This breed dates to the days when Jesus walked the earth. Designated as a beef breed, it was near extinction in the early 1900’s. A breeding pair was moved to Canada in the 1930’s. The offspring of this pair found their way to the Bronx Zoo, then to King Ranch in Texas. In 2022 the breed numbers are still considered “critical” as there are under 500 breeding animals thought to still exist worldwide.
White Park cattle have a solid white body with colored points or tips (ears, nose, eyes, and feet). They are a horned breed and genetically closely match the Scottish Highland and Galloway cattle.
HighPark Cattle have been developed as a breed to capture the shaggy features of Scottish Highlands with the colored points of White Park cattle.
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Nigerian dwarf Goats
General Information:
The Nigerian dwarf goat is a miniature dairy goat breed of West African ancestry. Nigerian Dwarf goats are popular as pets and family milkers due to their easy maintenance and small stature. However, because of their high butterfat, they are also used by some dairies to make cheese.
Nigerian dwarf goats can produce up to two quarts of milk each day. Their milk has 10 percent more protein and butterfat than is found in most dairy goats’ milk. These goats have easygoing temperaments and can live peacefully with other kinds of livestock.
Physical Features and Characteristics:
As the name implies, these are small goats with a short, straight coat in a wide variety of black, white, brown, red and gold color patterns. Average adult weight is 40 to 60 pounds, length is 24 to 30 inches, and height is 16 to 20 inches (males can stand up to 23 inches). Sunset Ridge is known to have some that are on the smaller side from 30 pounds.
Lifestyle and Reproduction:
These goats live about 10 years. Females can be reproductive by 4 or 5 months of age, and males perhaps as young as 2 months. Gestation lasts 145 to 153 days and results in several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being more common than singles or twins.
Bucks smell to tell if a doe is in estrus by the behavior known as “flehmen.” In this behavior, they extend their necks and heads into the air and curl up their upper lips.
Micro & Mini Donkeys
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
Mini Donkey
- Size
Micro Donkey are less than 30 inches
Miniature donkeys are usually 33–34 inches tall at the withers, and weigh 200–450 pounds. They are considered miniature if they around 36 inches or less tall.
- Origin
Miniature donkeys are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. They were first imported to the United States in1929.
- Temperament
Miniature donkeys are gentle, intelligent, and sociable. They are also known to be observant and cautious.
- Communication
Miniature donkeys communicate with each other through vocalizations that are sometimes called hee-haws, sirens, or yodels.
- Adaptations
Miniature donkeys have small, cupped hooves that help them climb steep slopes and rocky surfaces. They can also go long periods of time without drinking water.
- Diet
In the wild, miniature donkeys eat grasses, shrubs, and desert plants. In captivity, they eat hay and mineral supplements.
- Lifespan
In the wild, miniature donkeys typically live 25–30 years, while in captivity they can live 30–35 years.
- Social needs
Miniature donkeys need a friend and can become clinically depressed if they don't have one. They can be paired with another miniature donkey, a miniature or regular-sized horse, or a goat if raised with them.
- What are mini Donkeys good for?
Even better, they keep coyotes and other predators away! Full size donkeys can even kill coyotes, and minis will bite, kick, and generally deter them. They'll also help keep our weeds down, and we can use their manure to make stellar compost for the garden.
The donkey also symbolizes peace. Unlike a horse which symbolize peace and is a sign of war, a donkey symbolizes peace and stands for meekness and peace. Jesus chose to ride a donkey to fulfill a prophecy in the Book of Zechariah: "Behold, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey."
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
See Pics of New Babies Coming Soon!
Stay tuned here for pictures of our new babies as they become available.
Juliana Piglets coming in December of 2024
Mini Highland baby's coming in Spring of 2025
Mini HiPark baby's coming in Spring of 2025
Mini Donkey's coming in Spring of 2025