Raising Goats Naturally, The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat and More
Complete self-sufficiency may seem out of reach, but for more and more of us, increasing our self-reliance as much as possible is the order of the day. Incorporating dairy goats as the centerpiece of a diversified homestead can be the key to achieving this goal, and Raising Goats Naturally will show you how.
By working with nature, you can raise dairy goats and produce your own 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 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.
Deborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert who has raised livestock for over ten years. The author of Homegrown and Handmade and Ecothrifty, she presents extensively on skills for living a self-reliant life.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I: PLANNING, PURCHASING, AND PROTECTING
1Choosing Your Goats
Breeds
Does
Bucks
Registration
Pedigree
Purchasing
2Housing Your Goats
Shelter
Bedding
3Protecting Your Goats
Fencing
Livestock Guardians
PART II: RAISING, REMEDIES, AND REPRODUCTION
4Day-to-Day Life With Goats
Behavior
Anatomy
Health
Grooming
First Aid Supplies
Medicating the Sick Goat
5Feeding Your Goats
Rotational Grazing
Hay
Grain
Minerals
6Parasites
Internal Parasites
Controlling Internal Parasites
Alternative Dewormers
Preventing Infection
External Parasites
Controlling External Parasites
7Injury, Illnesses, and Diseases
Abortion and Stillbirth
Abscesses
Acidosis
Bloat
Brucellosis
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis
Cryptosporidiosis
Enterotoxemia
Foot Rot
Hardware Disease
Hypocalcemia
Infertility in Bucks
Infertility in Does
Johnes Disease
Ketosis
Listeriosis
Mastitis
Mineral Deficiencies
Neonatal Mortality
Pinkeye
Polio (Polioencephalomalacia)
Respiratory Conditions
Ringworm
Scours
Scrapie
Sore Mouth
Tetanus
Tuberculosis
Urinary Stones
White Muscle Disease
Vaccines
8Breeding
Breeding Season
Breeding Age
Signs of Estrus
Breeding Methods
Buck Behavior
Successful Breeding
Artificial Insemination
Feeding for Fertility
9Pregnancy
Gestation
Signs of Pregnancy
False Pregnancy
Feeding During Pregnancy
10Birthing
Getting Ready
Signs of Labor
Birth
Malpresentations
Failure to Dilate
Umbilical Cord
Placenta
Feeding Post Birth
Newborn Check
Kid Complications
11Raising Kids
Getting Started with Dam Raising
Getting Started with Bottle-Feeding
Poop
Feeding Grain and Forage
Horns
Castrating Males
Tattooing
Weaning
Barn Hygiene
12Milking
Managing Milkers Naturally
Teaching a Doe to Milk
Milking Equipment
Milking by Hand
Milking With a Machine
Handling Milk
Storing Milk
PART III: MILK, MEAT, AND MORE
13The Dairy Kitchen
Equipment
Ingredients
14Dairy Products
Buttermilk and Sour Cream
Yogurt
Sweets
15Acid-Ripened Cheeses
Vinegar
Citric Acid
16Culture-Ripened Cheeses
Choosing Cultures
Flocculation
Cutting Curds
Semi-Hard and Hard Cheese
17Meat
Meat Quality
Butchering
Cooking
18Soap
Processes
Safety
Equipment
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Soap Making
Final Thoughts
Endnotes
Glossary
Suggested Reading
Recipe Index
Index
About the Author
