Storey's Guide to Raising Meat Goats

by Sayer, Maggie

• ISBN13: 9781580176613
• ISBN10: 1580176615
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-30
• Publisher: Storey Books

Summary

The demand for tasty, low-fat goat meat is rapidly growing and, compared to other livestock, meat goats are inexpensive to buy, easy to handle, and less labor-intensive. They require less pasture than cattle, and, as browsers, can also share pasture with horses or cows. Furthermore, their gestation period is relatively short, offering a quick return on your initial investment. And the friendly, inquisitive nature of meat goats makes them an enjoyable addition to any size farm.

Table of Contents

Why Meat Goats?	p. 1
The Pros and Cons of Raising Meat Goats
Finding and Working with a Goat-Savvy Veterinarian
There's More Than One Way to Raise a Goat
Which Niche?
Before You Begin	p. 18
Adding Your Farm to the Equation
Availability Matters
Do the Homework
Which Breed?	p. 25
Parts of a Goat
Boers
Savannas
Kikos
Myotonics
Tennessee Meat Goats
Composite Breeds
Spanish Goats
Dairy Goats
Angoras
Registered, Fullblood, Purebred, Percentage, or Crossbred?
Where (and Where Not) to Buy Goats	p. 46
Individual Producers and Breeders
Which Seller?
Production and Dispersal Sales
Sale Barns
Selecting Breeding Stock	p. 55
Don't Buy Trouble
Breeding Better Boers
Look 'em Over Before You Buy
Closing the Sale
Think Like a Goat	p. 76
Range and Feeding Behavior
Social Order
Breeding Behavior: Bucks
Breeding and Kidding Behavior: Does
Behaviors of Newborn Kids
Goat Handling 101
Goats on the Go	p. 96
Stress and the Traveling Goat
Plan Ahead
Weather Kills
Choosing a Hauling Conveyance
Meat Goat Housing and Facilities	p. 104
Shelter
Pens
Feeders
Watering Devices
Handling Facilities
Fencing
Feeding Meat Goats	p. 124
The Caprine KIN (Keep It Natural) Diet and Your Goats
The Goat's Digestive System
Goats and Poisonous Plants
A Forage-Based Diet
Keeping Goats Healthy (and What to Do When They Aren't)	p. 137
To Be or Not to Be Your Own Vet?
Learning the Ropes
Checking Vital Signs
22 Caprine Maladies You Should Recognize
Stop Disease in Its Tracks-Vaccinate!
Antibiotics: Good or Bad?
Epinephrine - Don't Leave Home without It
Drenching a Goat
Medical Alternatives for Goats
Parasites 101	p. 169
Dewormer-Resistant Worms
Meet the Enemy
Other Gastrointestinal Nematodes
The Solution to Drug-Resistance Is...?
Those Other Worms
External Parasites
Livestock Guardians	p. 180
Statistics Tell the Tale
Protecting the Herd
Breeding Meat Goats	p. 198
Bucks Are Half the Herd
Those Does
You've Got to Be Kidding
Marketing Meat Goats	p. 226
Market Goats
Breeding Stock
Show Goats
An Unexplored Market: Working Goats
Promoting Your Goat Business	p. 243
Choosing a Business Name
Web Sites Sell Goats
Industry Advertising for Pennies
Make Business Cards Your Ace in the Hole
Create Your Own Flyers and Brochures
13 Additional Easy, Low-Cost Promotion Strategies
DEFRA's Code of Recommendation for the Welfare of Goats	p. 261
Photograph Your Goats	p. 270
Identify Your Goats	p. 276
Trim Your Goats' Hooves	p. 282
A Milk Goat for the Kids	p. 287
Clipping for Shows	p. 295
Emergency Euthanasia	p. 296
Resources	p. 297
Glossary	p. 314
Index	p. 328
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