This vintage book contains a collection of classic articles on selecting a goat for the farm, with information on breeds, characteristics, signs of health, and many other related aspects. With a wealth of invaluable information and helpful illustrations, this is a book that will be of considerable utility to farmers wishing to add goats to their livestock, and one that would make for a useful addition to collections of agricultural literature. Contents include: “Choosing a Goat for the Farm”, “A Collection of Articles on Breeds, Characteristics and Signs of Health”, “Goat Farming”, “What Breed to Buy?”, “How to Buy a Good Doe”, “Getting Your Goat”, and “Choosing a Goat”. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on farming.

No buts: discover the addictive joy of raising goats Goats are amazing, multi-talented creatures that have been domesticated for over 10,000 years. As well as being a source of food, clothes, and milk, they're wonderful companions: cute, intelligent, and playful—and often as friendly and attentive as dogs. In addition, they make endearing noises and—according to ancient Ethiopian legend—discovered coffee. So what's holding you back? The new edition of Raising Goats For Dummies rebuts all your excuses, and shows you why having one—or, actually, a few—of these companionable ruminants (cud-chewing animals) in your life will bring you great joy, and, if you choose, unbeatable homemade milk and cheese—and possibly a cozy new sweater. A happy goat aficionado since 1998, Cheryl K. Smith takes you from the grassroots of raising your goat—choosing and buying the breed you want, building and maintaining goat-friendly housing—to more elevated terrain, including how to build your own milk stand, participate in online goat shows (it’s a thing!), and even monetize your goat. You'll also learn the fundamentals of proper care to make sure your goats are fed, kept healthy, and bred in ways that ensure they have the happiest life you can provide. Study the history and breeds of goat, like the Nigerian Dwarf or Pygmy Live sustainably from and even profit from your goat Identify and alleviate common ailments Have fun raising the kids! Whether you're researching buying a goat or learning on the hoof about the ones you have, this book has everything you need to see why getting your goat will bring years and years of joy.

Produce your own milk, cheese, meat, fiber, fertilizer, and more Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can be the key to greater self-sufficiency. Responding to questions and concerns from readers from all over North America and beyond, this fully revised and expanded edition of Raising Goats Naturally will help readers work with nature to raise dairy goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, fertilizer, leather, fiber, and soap – all without relying on drugs or following the factory farm model. By observing your own animals closely and educating yourself about their specific needs, you can create an individualized plan for keeping them healthy and maximizing their productivity. This unique, fully-illustrated guide will teach you to help your herd thrive with: Breed-specific descriptions to help you choose the right goats for your goals and lifestyle Detailed information on housing, fencing, breeding, health, milking, and nutrition Complete recipes and instructions for making your own cheese, dairy products, and soap, as well as cooking with goat meat. Packed with personal experiences and backed up by expert veterinary advice and scientific studies, Raising Goats Naturally brings together a wealth of practical information on raising goats for the love of it and using their milk and meat to become more self-reliant.

This vintage book contains a complete guide to keeping goats, with information on breeds, housing, milking, and all other aspects. A highly accessible and novice-friendly handbook, “The Indispensable Goat” will be of considerable utility to those with little previous experience, and would make for a handy addition to collections of farming literature. Contents include: “The Indispensable Goat”, “The Chief Breeds”, “Selecting the Goat”, “Housing”, “Internal Fittings”, “Litter”, “Feeding”, “Suggested Rations”, “Breeding”, “Selecting the Mule”, “Mating”, “Kidding”, “Weaning”, “General Management”, “Milking”, “Utensils”, etc. Many vintage books like this are becoming increasingly hard-to-come-by and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality addition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on goat farming.

Goat meat is growing in popularity in Australia and is also an important export industry. It offers many opportunities for large- and small-scale farmers who need to diversify or seek alternative enterprises. Farming Meat Goats provides producers with comprehensive and practical information on all aspects of the goat meat industry. It covers selecting and preparing a property, choosing breeding stock, breeding, health care and nutrition, drought feeding, condition scoring and marketing. This second edition of Farming Meat Goats has been updated throughout and contains new information about the National Livestock Identification System, current regulations for ovine Johne's disease and animal welfare during transportation, and information about marketing. It will allow farmers to produce animals to specification for targeted markets in Australia and overseas including: butchers; supermarkets; restaurants; on-farm live sales; sales to abattoirs that specialise in Halal kills; and breeding stock either as replacements or for improved herd genetics.

Discover how raising your own goats can be a fun and profitable endeavor Goats are one of the most versatile animals you can own and they are perfect for dairy, meat and fiber, whether you're looking to become more self-sufficient or make some money on the side. While raising goats sounds like fun, most people who want to start their own herd simply don't know where to start. You're probably asking yourself: Can I have goats? What breed is best for my needs? How many goats should I get? Is raising goats difficult? What do I need to raise healthy goats? Raising Goats for Beginners is a comprehensive, practical guide that not only answers these questions, but covers everything you need to know in order to raise healthy goats. This book can help you get the most out of your herd with step-by-step instructions and useful tips for beginners. You will learn all the dos and don'ts of starting and maintaining a healthy goat herd. Here's what you'll discover in Raising Goats for Beginners: How to pick the best goat breed for your needs How to evaluate and purchase your goats How to build shelter and fencing for your herd How to feed your goats How to keep your goats healthy How to breed goats and birth kids How to harvest milk, meat and fiber Recipes with goat milk and meat And much more Raising your own goats may have seen out of reach for many reasons; however, I'm here to tell you it's not as difficult as it seems. I used to visit my grandma on her farm when I was a kid, and that's where I first encountered these smart hearty animals. I've kept a homestead of my own my whole life, and I've encountered my fair share of difficulties running a backyard homestead and raising goats. When I first started, I thought it would take years to learn all the ins and outs. In fact, it did. That's why I'm sharing all of that knowledge with you today in one convenient place. With this book you can save yourself time and energy by following all of the tips, tricks and advice you'll find within. Gain meaningful knowledge in the step-by-step, easy-to-follow chapters by using this book as a reference for any of the obstacles you might find yourself facing along the way. Join thousands of others who have taken the leap to a more sustainable and enjoyable life by raising their own goats and enjoying all the benefits that come from having your own herd! Click the "Add to Cart" button now to take advantage of raising your own goats.

"Practical, well written, and comprehensive. . . . Read this book cover to cover, or keep it handy as a reference for all aspects of goat care."—Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing This one-of-a-kind guide will empower even novice goat owners, offering expert guidance on maintaining a healthy herd—whether they are dairy, meat, fiber, or pet goats Goats have provided humankind with essential products for centuries; indeed, they bear the noble distinction of being the first domesticated farm animal. From providing milk and meat for sustenance and fiber and hides for clothing and shelter to carrying packs and clearing brush, there isn’t much that goats cannot do. Managing goats successfully requires an understanding of how nature designed them to thrive, including nutritional and psychological needs, as well as how to identify a problem and intercede before it’s too late. For more than a decade, Gianaclis Caldwell and her family have operated Pholia Farm Creamery, an off-grid, raw milk goat cheese dairy. In Holistic Goat Care, Caldwell offers readers a comprehensive guide to maintaining a healthy herd of goats, whether they are dairy goats, meat goats, fiber goats, or pet goats. Holistic Goat Care will empower even novice goat owners to confidently diagnose and treat most of the ailments that goats might experience. For the experienced goat farmer, the book offers a depth of insight and approaches to treatment not found in any other book. Caldwell places special emphasis throughout on holistic, natural, and alternative approaches to caring for goats, including information on: Handling and managing goats using their natural instincts as an asset Developing good farm management practices such as appropriate housing and fencing systems and manure and mortality management Making feeding decisions based on understanding goats’ ruminant digestive system and their evolutionary needs Growing forage and garden crops as feed and utilizing wild browse Troubleshooting health problems based on assessing symptoms Implementing advanced health procedures such as pain control, fecal testing, and transplanting rumen microbes from healthy to sick goats Diagnosing, treating, and preventing more than 75 common goat ailments Whether your herd is two or two hundred, this first-of-its-kind, comprehensive book will help you keep your goats healthy, safe, and productive and give you a deep and enjoyable insight into the wondrous creature that is the goat.

This rare manual provides information on the breeds, breeding and management of dairy goats, one of the oldest species of animal domesticated by humans. Suitable for the goat farmer, animal husbandry enthusiast or historian, this book provides a comprehensive guide with many details still of practical use today. Summary of contents: Breeds; Selection of Breeding Stock; Management of the Breeding Stock; Care of Doe at Kidding; Rearing the Kids; Horns and Polling; Feeding the Doe; Feeding the Buck; Minerals and Water; Lactation Period; Milking; Characteristics of Goats’ Milk; Housing for Goats; Diseases and Parasites of Goats; Methods of Making Cheese; Suggested Readings. Complete with a new introduction and the illustrations featured in the original, we are republishing this vintage work in a high quality, modern, and affordable edition.

This book contains classic material dating back to the 1900s and before. The content has been carefully selected for its interest and relevance to a modern audience. Each publication has been professionally curated and includes all details on the original source material. This particular instalment, "Goat Farming" contains information on breeding, health, feeding and much more. It is intended to illustrate the main aspects of goat farming and serves as a guide for anyone wishing to obtain a general knowledge of the subject and understand the field in its historical context. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This book covers more than 40 indigenous goat breeds and several ecotypes around the globe and describes genotypic and phenotype traits related to species adaptation to harsh environments and climate change. It also addresses sustainable global farming of local goat breeds in different production systems and agro-ecosystems. Discussing three main global regions: Asia, Africa, and Europe, it particularly focuses on adverse environments such as mountain, semiarid and arid regions. The topic of this highly readable book includes the disciplines of animal physiology, breeding, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity and veterinary science, and as such it provides valuable information for academics, practitioners, and general readers with an interest in those fields.