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.

From the Back Cover: Minimal space and housing needs make goats a practical choice for small or backyard dairy farmers, and Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats is the one book farmers need to raise healthy, productive animals. This comprehensive and reassuring guide includes complete instructions for turning your goat milk into profitable cheese, yogurt, kefir, and butter. The revised and updated fourth edition includes: Updated information on disease diagnosis and treatment; Tips on choosing pygmy breeds; Expanded coverage of breeding, kidding, and raising kids; More information on milking, dairying, and cheesemaking; Expanded resource section.

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 best-selling handbook is packed with detailed information on housing, feeding, and fencing dairy goats. It’s been the trusted resource on the topic for farmers and homesteaders since it was originally published in 1975, and the new edition — completely updated and redesigned — makes Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats more comprehensive and accessible than ever. In-depth sections explain every aspect of milking, including necessary equipment, proper hand-milking techniques, and handling and storing the milk. New color illustrations show each stage of kidding, and substantial chapters on dairy goat health and breeding include the most up-to-date research and practices.

This vintage book contains a complete guide to keeping dairy goats, with information on selection, breeding, housing, necessary equipment, and many other related aspects. Written in simple, plain language and profusely illustrated, this detailed handbook is highly recommended for prospective farmers, and would make for a useful addition to collections of agricultural literature. Contents include: “Goat Farming”, “Why Not Keep a Goat”, “How to Choose a Goat”, “Housing”, “The Use and Abuse of Pasture”, “Feeding”, “Breeding”, “The In-Kid Nanny”, “Kid Rearing”, “Male Goats”, “General Management”, “Milking, and the Care of Milk”, “Butter and Cheese from Goats’ Milk”, etc. 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.

Jerry Belanger's indispensable guidance for goat owners continues in a revised edition of his popular handbook, RAISING MILK GOATS THE MODERN WAY. It includes more information about diseases and medication, new breed information, barn plans, recipes for goat milk products, and more. Belanger's reassuring, often humorous style makes reading about goats almost as much fun as raising them.

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.