We’re animal people. Most of us started as animal kids, always dreaming, learning about, and if we were lucky, actually keeping them. Here at Creatures, we believe it’s possible to nurture that passion through a lifetime and even make money doing it.
Below you’ll find everything we publish: breed guides, pricing research, auction data, selling strategies, care resources, and regulatory guidance. Whether you’re raising highland cattle, miniature donkeys, horses, or cats, the goal is the same: help you make informed decisions backed by real data, not guesswork.
News and Market Analysis
Our Small Cows, Big News newsletter tracks every major highland cattle auction in North America with detailed pricing breakdowns, trend analysis, and market commentary. If you buy or sell highland cattle (or plan to), this is the most data-driven resource available.
Recent coverage includes the 37th AHCA National Sale ($1 million+ in total sales), six fall auctions totaling $1.6 million, and February 2026 results covering 70 animals across four sales. Every issue breaks down what sold, for how much, and what it means for the market.
May highland recap: six events, $2.54M moved, and what’s actually driving prices
Hi, everyone! Since the last edition, the highland calendar has been packed. Six sales closed between May 2 and May 10, totaling roughly $2.54 million in cattle gross moved across the highland market in a little over a week. The sales were: HHCA 15th Annual Spring Highland Sale, May 2, live at the Springfield Livestock […]
What I learned running my first big auction (and 4 other April sales)
Hey everyone, The last ten days of April brought a cluster of highland sales worth covering. Five auctions, four different platforms, 201 cattle lots offered, 179 sold, for a combined $747,668. The sales were: The Scottish Highland Cattle Roundup, April 18 The Northwest Highland Cattle Association spring sale, April 25 The No Bull Highland and […]
5 sales, $850k, and the real bull market
Hello, everyone! Spring Auction Roundup: Five Sales, $800k, and Some Honest Math It's been a busy spring with lots of sales to review and a few fun ones coming up! Of course, I should highlight the very first online auction being held on my own Creatures platform coming up on April 25. I have a […]
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Buying and Selling Animals
Buying or selling animals involves real money and real risk. Our guides cover both sides of the transaction: what buyers should look for, what sellers should know, and how to avoid the fraud and scams that cost people thousands every year.
Start with our comprehensive buyer’s guide for due diligence fundamentals. On the safety side, we cover livestock fraud prevention, online pet scams, horse scams, and cattle fraud detection. These aren’t theoretical risks. They happen every day on Facebook groups and unverified marketplaces.
Sponsor a Farm Animal: How Animal Sponsorship Works
Sponsoring a farm animal means committing a set amount of money, usually monthly, that helps cover the real cost of keeping one rescued animal fed, sheltered, and cared for, without you ever taking the animal home or owning it. In return you get a named animal to follow, regular updates on how it is doing, […]
Find Donkey Breeders Near Me: A 2026 Vetting Guide
Donkey breeders near me – Searching for ‘donkey breeders near me’? Our guide helps you find and vet local breeders, with tips on health checks, contracts, and
Find Poultry Breeders Near Me: 7 Vetted Sources for 2026
Searching for poultry breeders near me? Discover 7 top-rated hatcheries & platforms to find healthy chicks, with tips on vetting, pricing, & transport.
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Species and Breed Guides
Our species guides go deep on breeds, pricing, care, and ownership realities. These aren’t fluff pieces. They’re built on registry data, breeder interviews, veterinary science, and real market prices.
Highland Cattle
Highland cattle are the most searched breed on Creatures. Our guides cover breed traits and temperament, miniature highland ownership, the truth about “teacup” highlands, feeding, calf care, and where to buy.
Miniature Donkeys
Our miniature donkey breed guide covers everything from size standards and coat colors to pricing, pet suitability, feeding, and care tips. We also address the micro mini phenomenon, the dwarfism distinction, and why miniature donkeys are not guard animals.
Horses, Cats, and Small Animals
Ownership cost is the most common question across every species. We publish detailed pricing guides for horses, cats, ferrets, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. For poultry producers, browse our species directory for breed-specific guides.
Selling Strategies
You can have the best animals in the country and still struggle to sell them if your marketing falls flat. Our proven selling strategies cover listing optimization, pricing psychology, photography tips, and buyer communication. Combined with our guide on how to make money raising cows and our analysis of the most profitable farm animals, you’ll have a clear picture of what sells, what doesn’t, and why.
Ready to list? Follow our step-by-step guide to selling livestock online.
Small Farm Tax Deductions: What Animal Operations Can Deduct
A small farm that keeps animals for profit can deduct the ordinary, necessary costs of running it: feed, hay, veterinary care, breeding fees, fencing and equipment repairs, fuel, utilities on the farm, pasture rent, farm insurance, loan interest, hired labor, and the gradual write down (depreciation) of things like barns and purchased breeding stock. Those […]
Livestock Record Keeping: What to Track and How
Good livestock record keeping comes down to two questions: what do you write down, and where does it live so you can find it three years later. At a working level you are tracking five things for every animal or group: health and medical events, breeding and parentage, production numbers, money in and money out, […]
Livestock Bookkeeping Basics: Expenses, Income, and Schedule F
Livestock bookkeeping comes down to three habits: record every dollar that comes in, record every dollar that goes out, and sort each of those dollars into a category before you forget what it was for. Do that consistently through the year and your tax return mostly writes itself, because the categories a livestock operation uses […]
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Livestock Shows and Events
Livestock shows serve a dual purpose: they validate breeding quality and connect you with serious buyers. Our show guide covers the top events in the US and internationally, including breed-specific shows for highland cattle, donkeys, and more. Show success directly translates to higher sale prices, as our auction analysis consistently demonstrates.
How to Show Cattle: A Beginner’s Guide to the Show Ring
Why Show Cattle? Showing cattle is one of the most rewarding experiences in the livestock world. It connects breeders with their peers, puts your genetics in front of potential buyers, and provides an objective evaluation of your breeding program by experienced judges. For many operations, show ring success is the foundation of their marketing strategy […]
4-H and FFA Livestock Projects: A Complete Guide for Families
What 4-H and FFA Livestock Projects Teach Young People A 4-H or FFA livestock project is more than raising an animal. It is a structured program that teaches young people responsibility, animal husbandry, financial management, public speaking, and the discipline of seeing a commitment through from start to finish. These skills transfer directly into adulthood, […]
How to Enter Livestock at a County Fair: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your First Livestock Show Starts at the County Fair County and state fairs are where most exhibitors begin their livestock showing careers. They are more accessible, less expensive, and more forgiving than breed association shows or national competitions. For families new to showing, the county fair is the entry point into a community that can […]
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Animal Care and Ethical Breeding
The quality of your care determines the quality of your animals, and the quality of your animals determines what you can charge for them. Our ethical breeding guide covers the principles that separate reputable operations from backyard breeders: genetic testing, health screening, proper socialization, honest representation, and responsible placement.
For species-specific care, use our breed guides above. Each includes detailed sections on nutrition, housing, health management, and veterinary requirements tailored to that species.
Pet Cremation Cost: Private vs Communal, and What Drives the Price
Most people cremating a pet pay somewhere between about 50 and 500 dollars, and the single thing that moves the number most is a choice you make at the start: communal or private. As of 2026, a communal cremation, where your pet is cremated with other animals and the ashes are not returned, commonly runs […]
How to Write a Pet Obituary (with Examples and a Template)
A pet obituary is a short written tribute to an animal who has died, and writing one is a simple, powerful way to hold on to who they were. There is no official format and no gatekeeper. At its most basic, you name your animal, say how long you had them, describe the things that […]
7 Japanese Chicken Breeds for Breeders
Discover 7 unique Japanese chicken breeds. Our guide covers origins, traits, care, and breeding tips for Shamo, Silkie, Cochin, and more.
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Regulations and Animal Welfare
Regulatory compliance isn’t optional, and ignorance isn’t a defense. Our animal welfare overview covers the legal frameworks governing animal sales, transport, and housing. Buyers are more informed than ever, and regulatory oversight is increasing. Staying ahead of these requirements protects both your animals and your business.
Livestock Health Certificates: What a CVI Is and When You Need One
A livestock health certificate, known formally as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is an official document certifying that the animals listed on it were inspected, found apparently healthy, and meet the movement rules that apply to them. Per APHIS, an interstate CVI may be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian or by a Federal, State, […]
Animal Health Certificates: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know
What Is an Animal Health Certificate? An animal health certificate, formally called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is an official document issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian that certifies an animal has been examined and found to be healthy and free of signs of infectious or contagious disease. It is the most important piece of […]
Cattle Identification Requirements: RFID Tags and the New Federal Rules
The Biggest Change in Cattle ID in Decades On November 5, 2024, new federal rules took effect requiring electronic identification (EID) ear tags for certain cattle and bison moving across state lines. The rule, published by USDA APHIS, replaces the old system of visual-only metal tags with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be […]
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Get Started on Creatures
Creatures is where animals live online. Whether you’re tracking your herd, listing animals for sale, or researching your next purchase, everything starts here.
- Add your animals: Create animal profiles with breed, registration, pedigree, and photo information.
- Track records: Log vaccinations, weight records, breeding dates, and vet visits.
- Browse listings: The Creatures Marketplace connects buyers with verified sellers.
- Find breeders: Search the Breeder Directory by species, breed, and location.
- Follow the market: Subscribe to Small Cows, Big News for auction data and market analysis.
