Arkansas Heritage Farm

At the Little Rock Zoo, our Arkansas Heritage Farm is home to a variety of heritage breeds. Heritage breeds are traditional livestock breeds that were raised by our ancestors for generations. These breeds are well-adapted to local environments and have traits suited to specific purposes, such as meat, milk, or wool production. By preserving heritage breeds, we help maintain biodiversity in agriculture and safeguard valuable genetic resources for future generations. At the Little Rock Zoo, we are proud to showcase and promote the conservation of heritage breeds, highlighting their importance in sustaining agricultural traditions and preserving our cultural heritage.

Donkeys and Horses

Arkansas Heritage Farm is home to one miniature horse named Lilly and two horses named Zinnamon and Zelda. There is also a female pair of fun miniature donkeys that are delightful for all ages; Misty and Zoe.

The term "donkey" comes from dun (the usual grayish-brown color) and the suffix "ky" meaning small. Male donkeys are called "jacks," and females are "jennets."
The donkey was first domesticated about six thousand years ago.
Intelligent, social, hardy animals, donkeys have been domesticated for their milk, strength and companionship for more than six thousand years.

Goat

(Pygmy, Nigerian and Boer)

Arkansas Heritage Farm is home to three different kind of goats. We have three male Boer goats; brothers, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie; seven male Nigerian dwarf goats; Blitz, Bolt, Comet, Pogo, Rocket, Sonic and Splash and two Pygmy goats.

What animal has a beard like an old man, eats weeds like candy, thinks a pile of rocks is a playground, and is smaller than a collie dog? The Mini goat! Pgmy and Nigerian dwarf goats are both mini goats!
Goats were one of the first animals to be tamed by humans and were being herded 9,000 years ago.
Goats have four “stomachs.” Their food moves first into the rumen (from which it is periodically regurgitated for more “cud chewing”), then to the reticulum, later to the omasum, and finally to the abomasum (which is most like a more sensitive human stomach).
Goats’ pupils (like many hooved animals) are rectangular. This gives them vision for 320 to 340 degrees (compared to humans with 160-210) around them without having to move and they are thought to have excellent night vision.

Katahdin Sheep

Little Rock Zoo’s Arkansas Heritage Farm is home to four Katahdin sheep: three males; Blu, Cap and Waldo and one female, Kibby.

Katahdin sheep are a hair breed that was developed in Maine and are named for Mt. Katahdin.
Sheep have two sorts of hair in their coat–the short coarse hairs and the wool. Hair breeds have less of the woolly fur. Because of this, they do not generally need to be shorn and are low maintenance.
Sheep have a field of vision of around 300 degrees, allowing them to see behind themselves without having to turn their head.

THREATENED

Wild Turkey

(Blue Slate, Red Bourbon, and Royal Palm)

The blue slate turkey is named for its ashy blue body which can come in different shades, depending on the genetic mutation. The body may be speckled with black flecks. The head, throat and wattles are red. They have pink legs and feet, a black beard and a light grey beak. Females are usually lighter in color than males. They may also be black in color.

As their name suggests, red bourbon turkeys are dark brown to red in color with white wing and tail feathers. They have a red wattle, a blueish white face, pink legs and a black beard.

Royal palm turkeys are of medium sized with a very distinct color pattern. They are white with black, metallic edges on their feathers. Different parts of their bodies are black and white, very contrasting in color. They have red to blueish white heads, throats and wattles, a light colored beak, pink feet and a black beard.

The Bourbon Red is an attractive bird for either exhibition or just for the backyard.
The Royal Palm turkey, a heritage breed that first originated in Florida in the 1920s, this bird is primarily used for ornament due to its unique and beautiful plumage.
The Blue Slate turkey is named for its color, which is solid to ashy blue over the entire body, with or without a few black flecks.

Listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy.

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