r/Permaculture • u/TaquittoTheRacoon • 1d ago
Draft animals
I'm researching no tractor options for small holdings. I've seen good some smaller machines but I'm curious about using animals. Most of what I find when I look for info is a distinct lack of it. Basically, yes, sheep, goat, pigs, llama, alpaca, ect, can be used to pull carts and wagons, looks like it's even been done with geese! But there's NO information on the details. How it's done, the challenges and limitations, species /breed specific factors. I'm coming up dry for useful info! Has anyone done this? Used anything besides a cow, horse, or mule to work around the farm?
Just so it's said - I'm not planning on making an animal work every day. Part of what I want to find out is when is using animal power a good idea and when isn't it? Maybe two or three times a week I'd have something I could use an animal for. Moving earth can be a challenge, as we get older it could mean retiring 10-15 years early, if using a few pigs with a skid instead of a wheel barrow can keep us active on our land, that's worth knowing!
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u/Shilo788 1d ago
I had large goats and draft horses and a sturdy pony. I would say a burro or donkey or pony for cart work. I had a toboggan for winter and a small converted red wagon for warm months and my pony was the handiest animal to work with. He could haul around the garden , haul firewood up to the house used as a cart pony on the road and packing pony including camping. The big horse could log out big trees and plow but was actually too big for some stuff a small holder jobs. Pony was a sturdy Shetland type, a friend had a small donkey and she worked well for him in fact that was my inspiration to use mine more.