The best book I have run across on overall goat care and buying kids is Raising GOATS Naturally by Deborah Niemann. She is a regular presenter at Mother Earth News Fairs and I met her in person at the first one I attended.
About the Author
Deborah Niemann has been homesteading for years and raising goats since 2002. Her book is a unique combination of valuable information and personal stories. The book was entertaining and educational.
Data for Beginners
She starts with the basics: how to get good animals, and how to keep them on your property and safe from predators. Next, she goes into how a goat’s body functions and the kind of behavior to expect. This leads perfectly into what to feed goats to make sure they stay healthy. Unfortunately, goats cannot eat everything like many people believe. The right rations make all the difference in your goat being able to live a long and happy life!
More on Goat Care
Goats can be affected by parasites and diseases. Deborah covers this area very thoroughly and the stories that are interspersed demonstrate some of the difficulties she has experienced with her own flock. I found the information on handling worms in goats particularly helpful.
Goat Milk
In order to get goat milk, a female goat has to get pregnant. The book discusses breeding, pregnancy, birthing and raising kids, all of which will have to happen before we get milk we can use. She also goes over milking by hand or by machine and how to handle and store milk.
Using Goat Products
The last section of the book gives information on what you can make with goat milk: buttermilk, sour cream, ice cream, yogurt, cheeses, and soap. If you want goat meat, she also goes over butchering and cooking data.
Raising Goats – Final Comments
Goats are capable of providing many useful items for humans: milk, meat, leather and fiber. Deborah’s book goes into great detail on raising goats for milk and meat and using these to benefit your family. Obviously, if you are concerned about the quality of the food you are eating, raising it yourself is the best way to monitor and ensure that quality. Raising GOATS Naturally does a great job of covering all the bases for goat owners and people interested in becoming one and she recently updated the book in a second edition!
Sounds like I should give this one a go when you get your goats out on the homestead, so I know what we’re dealing with. Plus as I’m the Chef the data on butchery and handling of meat will be useful.