Lindsey Daugherty with the Real Numbers on Mini Cattle & Multi-Species Farming

Lindsey Daugherty is the founder of Seven Daugherty Farm in South Carolina, where she breeds miniature Highland-cross cattle, Nigerian Dwarf goats, pasture-raised chickens, and Siberian cats imported from Russia. She also works full-time in senior living tech and partners with Family Circle Farms on a shared mini cattle operation. Coming up Mother's Day weekend, she's hosting her first multi-farm online auction on Creatures with 50 animals from 10 small farms across the East Coast. In this episode: Lindsey's four-year revenue arc from $20,000 to over $100,000 The personal loss during COVID that brought her family back to the land The unusual partnership with Family Circle Farms where they share bulls, embryos, mamas, and calves Where her farm dollars actually go (42% animal purchases, 17% feed, 15% repairs, 12% vet, the rest in supplies) The Mother's Day Weekend Auction: 50 animals from 10 small farms Building toward roughly 100 calves a year between two farms What most people get wrong about why anyone is in mini cattle The story behind the "Seven" in Seven Daugherty Farm Find Lindsey: Website: sevendaughertyfarm.com Facebook: Seven Daugherty Farm (over 50,000 followers) Instagram: @seven.daugherty.farm Mentioned in this episode: Family Circle Farms Farm Bright (farm accounting software) Bring a Trailer (collectible car auction inspiration) Murray McMurray Hatchery Weaver Leather (halters) Mini Moo Crew, Jamie (Lindsey's recommended next guest) Mother's Day Weekend Auction on Creatures: May 9-10, 2026. 50 animals across 10 small farms. Cattle, donkeys, sheep. No buyer fees, no reserves. Find it at: https://creatures.com/marketplace/events/rbRmt184 About the show: Creatures: Where Animal People Talk Business is a podcast about the people building real businesses with animals. Hosted by Dr. Elliott Garber, veterinarian and founder of Creatures, the all-animal marketplace at creatures.com. Chapters: 00:00 Cold open 00:18 Welcome and episode preview 01:25 How Elliott and Lindsey connected 02:00 The 60-second farm tour 02:48 Animal kid origin and first animal sales 04:50 From senior living to the farm: COVID losses and return to roots 08:05 Mini cattle, Nigerian Dwarf goats, and Siberian cats from Russia 13:42 The revenue arc: $20K to over $100K in four years 24:14 The most ever paid (and sold) for an animal 28:39 Auctions, private sales, and the Creatures vision 40:20 The Family Circle Farms partnership 47:59 The mini cattle market and family life 53:05 The Mother's Day Auction and the story behind "Seven" 56:10 The Squeeze Chute 58:58 Meeting the animals and outro