Raising Goats Naturally, 2nd Edition : The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat, and More

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. Front Cover 1 Praise 2 Title Page 4 Rights Page 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 12 Preface to the Second Edition 14 Part I: Planning, Purchasing, and Protecting 24 Chapter 1. Choosing Your Goats 26 Chapter 2. Housing Your Goats 56 Chapter 3. Protecting Your Goats 60 Part II: Raising, Remedies, and Reproduction 76 Chapter 4. Day-to-Day Life With Goats 78 Chapter 5. Feeding Your Goats 94 Chapter 6. Parasites 108 Chapter 7. Injury, Illnesses, and Diseases 144 Chapter 8. Breeding 188 Chapter 9. Pregnancy 200 Chapter 10. Birthing 204 Chapter 11. Raising Kids 228 Chapter 12. Milking 252 Part III: Milk, Meat, and More 266 Chapter 13. The Dairy Kitchen 268 Chapter 14. Dairy Products 276 Chapter 15. Acid-ripened Cheeses 282 Chapter 16. Culture-ripenedCheeses 290 Chapter 17. Meat 308 Chapter 18. Soap 318 Final Thoughts 330 Notes 332 Glossary 336 Suggested Reading 338 Recipe Index 340 Index 342 About the Author 352 About New Society Publishers 353 A Guide to Responsible Digital Reading 354 "Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can be 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 will help readers raise goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, and more, without relying on drugs or the factory farm model."-- Provided by publisher Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can aid in greater self-sufficiency. Responding to questions and concerns from readers from all over North America and beyond, this revised and expanded edition will help readers raise goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, and more, without relying on drugs or the factory farm model.