Tayto Plains

Welcome to the Plains only a stroll away from all the action and you will find yourself where the rare breed farm animals graze they include Dexter cattle, Jacob sheep, Vietnamese pot bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, and of course, our now legendary herd of buffalo. Here are three of the animals that you will find on the Tayto Plains.

Who am I?
Giddie the Pygmy Goat

About me:
I’m a great climber. I love to jump on rocks and fall on logs. I’m small, cute but I can be very cheeky and really inquisitive. I like to spar with my friends and we bang heads for fun too.

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass, shrubs, leaves and twigs. But my favourite food is fresh young shoots off plants.

Who am I?
Dexter Cattle

About me:
No we’re not very far away, we’re just small! Dexter Cattle are, in fact,
the smallest of all the European cattle breeds and are about one third
the size of the milking cows you’re used to seeing. While we are not
common in Ireland anymore, we actually originated here in the 1800’s,
allegedly first bred by a man called Mr. Dexter. Don’t let our size fool you
- we can produce up to 9 litres of milk a day!

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass, nuts and forage. We are not fussy but we do love to chew.
Mooooo!

Who am I?
Highland cattle

Where you might find me:
We originated in Scotland.

About me:
Highland cattle are found all over the world, but were originally an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and beautiful long, shaggy coats. We are known to be a hardy breed due to the strong winds and rain of our native Scottish Highlands. We are also known as ‘Kyloes’ or ‘Scotland’ or more affectionately as ‘Shaggy Coos’!

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass and many plants that other cattle avoid!

Who am I?
Soay Sheep

About me:
I am unlike any other sheep as I am much smaller than a modern
domesticated sheep. I originate from the Island of Soay, near the
western Isles of Scotland. I am known to be very intelligent with
quirky behavioural habits, which makes me very interesting to
watch, but I am also quite a shy animal. I am an excellent grazer
and my coloured fleece is very sought after for many craft uses.

And for lunch I will have the…
I am often referred to as a lawnmower because I love and eat
lots of grass!

Who am I?
Jacob Sheep

About me:
We are a rare sheep and people often mistake us
Jacobs for goats! We have black and white coats and
we have 2 horns but can have as many as 4! Many
years ago we were often kept as decorative pets in
public parks, which may have saved us from dying
out. Jacob Sheep have been used to protect farms, a
bit like guard dogs.

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass – yum yum!

Who am I?
Sicilian donkeys

Where you might find me:
Originated from the islands of Sardinia and Sicily of the coast of Italy.

About me:
You won’t find many animals cuter than us! We are lovable, trustworthy, gentle creatures that love company and get lonely if left on our own! We are terrible attention seekers, and would happily keep you here all day!

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass and hay.

Who am I?
Vietnamese Pot-Belly Pigs

About me:
Originally from Vietnam, as the name would suggest, I am a goodnatured,
gentle pig that is now bred all over the world and I make an
excellent pet. Pigs are considered the fourth smartest animal in the world
and Pot Bellied Pigs are some of the smartest! I am shorter than ordinary
pigs, with a straight tail and of course, my trademark pot-belly!

And for lunch I will have the…
Everything on the menu! I love to eat so much that I don’t know when to
stop which can lead to weight problems. So no feeding me please!

Who am I?
Manx Sheep

About me:
Descended from primitive sheep that used to live in
Scotland, my family and I are quite rare. We usually
have four horns, but can sometimes have two or even
six! Because I am so rare, I am delighted to be living
here so people can see me and my kind for years to
come.

And for lunch I will have the…
Grass, lots of nuts and plenty of hay!