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The Joy of Keeping Goats: The Ultimate Guide to Dairy and Meat Goats
What’s not to love about goats? They will feed you, clean up the overgrown mess in the fields, and take long hikes with you while carrying your supplies. They will make you laugh when you’re sad, provide extra income for even the smallest farm, carry you to town and back in a little cart, and perhaps best of all, they will gaze upon your face with earnest adoration.
If you have dreams of becoming a goat farmer, The Joy of Keeping Goats can help you turn that dream into a reality. In this comprehensive manual you’ll learn about the different goat breeds, as well as everything from goat housing systems to feeding, health, and breeding.
For those who are excited about the prospect of keeping goats for their deliciously sweet milk and low-fat, nutritious meat, author Laura Childs will walk you through the milking process, and then offer suggestions for what to do with all that milk (Goat milk feta cheese anyone?), and provides a recipe for curried goat, a traditional Caribbean dish.
As you embark on this adventure, you’ll discover the joy in keeping them, learning about their care, and getting to know each goat’s individual personality.
If you have dreams of becoming a goat farmer, The Joy of Keeping Goats can help you turn that dream into a reality. In this comprehensive manual you’ll learn about the different goat breeds, as well as everything from goat housing systems to feeding, health, and breeding.
For those who are excited about the prospect of keeping goats for their deliciously sweet milk and low-fat, nutritious meat, author Laura Childs will walk you through the milking process, and then offer suggestions for what to do with all that milk (Goat milk feta cheese anyone?), and provides a recipe for curried goat, a traditional Caribbean dish.
As you embark on this adventure, you’ll discover the joy in keeping them, learning about their care, and getting to know each goat’s individual personality.
- GenresNonfictionEducation
248 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Laura Childs
19 books5 followersLaura Childs spent many years working in the communications and marketing industry. From desktop publishing for both corporate and socially-minded clients, to programming and creating online Knowledge Management courseware for highly respected authors in their field; Laura has worked in Canada and internationally in a vast array of roles.
In the last 20 years she's provided many of her services and offered consultation from her hobby farm located high in the hills of the Canadian Shield. On the farm, Laura raised her daughter to discover her own talents and interests, be adept at living off the land, and balance it all with compassion, grace, and social responsibility. After 17 years on the farm, mother and daughter now live apart, but near each other, in southern Ontario.
With such diverse interests and life experiences, Laura has turned to utilizing her talents to inspire others, helping each to recognize their potential and rise to their personal best. While Laura has spent many years writing about country living, she now writes and blogs on more personal and accessible topics of health, diet, weight loss and natural foods. She has most recently co-authored a book with her daughter on the weight loss diet they created together, "Low Carb, High Fat, No Hunger Diet" (June, 2014).
In the last 20 years she's provided many of her services and offered consultation from her hobby farm located high in the hills of the Canadian Shield. On the farm, Laura raised her daughter to discover her own talents and interests, be adept at living off the land, and balance it all with compassion, grace, and social responsibility. After 17 years on the farm, mother and daughter now live apart, but near each other, in southern Ontario.
With such diverse interests and life experiences, Laura has turned to utilizing her talents to inspire others, helping each to recognize their potential and rise to their personal best. While Laura has spent many years writing about country living, she now writes and blogs on more personal and accessible topics of health, diet, weight loss and natural foods. She has most recently co-authored a book with her daughter on the weight loss diet they created together, "Low Carb, High Fat, No Hunger Diet" (June, 2014).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2025
As an owner of strictly Nigerian Dwarf goats, this book wasn’t very useful to me. But some of the information— particularly the section about plants that are considered poisonous to goats— was ridiculous. Clover? Hemp? Pine? I have fed all of my (nearly 20) goats all of these things with no ill effects. In fact, pine is a natural dewormer, and goats love eating clover. If you’re going to raise goats, I suggest reading other books, particularly if you’re raising miniature breed goats. I’m glad I have experience with them before reading this, because I’d sure feel stupid regurgitating this information to any experienced goat owner.
(Not to mention— electric fence strands starting at 5ft and going up to 40ft, 42ft for meat breeds? I think that was a misprint/typo, but dang was I confused reading that over and over again this morning.)
(Not to mention— electric fence strands starting at 5ft and going up to 40ft, 42ft for meat breeds? I think that was a misprint/typo, but dang was I confused reading that over and over again this morning.)
April 6, 2012
This one or the one by Hathaway are my two most favorite goat books ever!
January 5, 2022
This book was a fun read, but I think it was trying to do too much in too few pages. The writing is filled with charming anecdotes and personal stories, but I think the author should have narrowed the focus of the book to increase it's effectiveness. Maybe, for example, she should have focused on dairy goats, since she devoted the most pages to them in the book anyway. I also don't think it's a true beginner's guide - mostly because I'm a beginner and some of this went over my head! I'll keep it to refer back to, but will keep looking for more goat books.
November 4, 2018
I read this book on the side for a few weeks, and it wasn't the best goat book I've read, but it had some useful information and helpful tips. It said that it's the ultimate guide to dairy and meat goats, but really it mostly focused on dairy. There was one chapter dedicated to dairy goats, and one dedicated to fiber goats, but not one that focused on meat goats. I was disappointed about this, because I'm looking into getting meat goats, but if you aren't then it won't be a problem.
March 6, 2018
Light Reading
Not a book I'd want to rely on alone. Opinions and wives tails need to be sorted through. Incomplete, lacking depth. It's hard to pull off writing a book for all types of goats and this one doesn't quite make the stretch. This book might be a good starting point, but is no goat Bible. Try Storey's guides for that. This one for light reading.
Not a book I'd want to rely on alone. Opinions and wives tails need to be sorted through. Incomplete, lacking depth. It's hard to pull off writing a book for all types of goats and this one doesn't quite make the stretch. This book might be a good starting point, but is no goat Bible. Try Storey's guides for that. This one for light reading.
July 20, 2018
Great primer for someone just delving into goat care or who just wants a decently rounded understanding of goats as livestock & pets. I definitely wouldn’t suggest someone do more with it than borrow from the library, but again, it’s a reasonable springboard into much more involved books on the topic.
August 9, 2017
An excellent source of data on all things connected to keeping goats, presented in an easily accessible way. Also - the photos were so cute!
November 17, 2020
A nice intro the basics of raising goats. We have two Nigerian Dwarf goats and this book did a good job of getting me up to speed on the basics.
March 8, 2018
For a goat beginner like myself, this was a very good book. It covers basic care and understanding of meat and dairy goats with a few tips along the way. The author started out like so many other North American small time goat farmers, with 1 goat and a curiosity. Not only did this book add some things to my repertoire, but it reinforced my desire to keep at raising goats for the joy of it. Definitely a good read and a keeper.
August 6, 2011
The Joy of Keeping Goats
Laura Childs
Published by Skyhorse Publishing
Source: Review Copy
The title of this book had me at first glance as I do find much joy in keeping my goats! It is the ultimate guide to dairy and meat goats, and a joy to read.
Firstly the pictures are beautiful snapshots of goats. I had to thumb through before even reading it to see all the great goat pictures! Very pleasing to the eye, and not at all just a manual you keep tucked away on a shelf. She starts of for the very beginner with ‘goat speak’, terms which you should know when looking into goat herding. Even ways to tell the difference between a sheep and a goat, even us experienced goat herders confuse that at times in those rare breeds!
Laura Childs begins her book with reasons one may consider having a goat farm. From being lactose intolerant, to wanting weed eaters, to just enjoying the antics of goats. Each person will have a variety of reasons for finding joy in the goat. I love how she describes each breed of goat from dairy, fiber and the meat varieties. She then goes on to teach about different types of shelters and feeders that you can make and put together for your goats.
Tips on feeding, information on your goats health, and even a list of poisonous plants you should remove from your pasture.
When to breed, how to breed, and tips on kidding. Raising the kids and caring for their horns and castration if being wethered.
Laura Childs completes the book with ideas on milking, working with fiber, and processing goat meat. She includes recipes that sounds delectable.
She definitely comes full circle for the beginner. A comprehensive book for the beginning goat herder and basics that even the seasoned veteran needs to reference from time to time. Beautifully done!
Laura Childs
Published by Skyhorse Publishing
Source: Review Copy
The title of this book had me at first glance as I do find much joy in keeping my goats! It is the ultimate guide to dairy and meat goats, and a joy to read.
Firstly the pictures are beautiful snapshots of goats. I had to thumb through before even reading it to see all the great goat pictures! Very pleasing to the eye, and not at all just a manual you keep tucked away on a shelf. She starts of for the very beginner with ‘goat speak’, terms which you should know when looking into goat herding. Even ways to tell the difference between a sheep and a goat, even us experienced goat herders confuse that at times in those rare breeds!
Laura Childs begins her book with reasons one may consider having a goat farm. From being lactose intolerant, to wanting weed eaters, to just enjoying the antics of goats. Each person will have a variety of reasons for finding joy in the goat. I love how she describes each breed of goat from dairy, fiber and the meat varieties. She then goes on to teach about different types of shelters and feeders that you can make and put together for your goats.
Tips on feeding, information on your goats health, and even a list of poisonous plants you should remove from your pasture.
When to breed, how to breed, and tips on kidding. Raising the kids and caring for their horns and castration if being wethered.
Laura Childs completes the book with ideas on milking, working with fiber, and processing goat meat. She includes recipes that sounds delectable.
She definitely comes full circle for the beginner. A comprehensive book for the beginning goat herder and basics that even the seasoned veteran needs to reference from time to time. Beautifully done!
January 2, 2016
This is a good book to start with if you're interested in goats, although it doesn't really stand out as being any different from the hundreds of other goatcare guides out there. Still, it is well-organized, and an easy and quick read with all the basic info you need to start with. I would still recommend it as a place to start. Plus there's adorable glossy photos of goats throughout the book.
Read
May 25, 2014Only just skimmed the book - now way and I getting goats. Not because they aren't cute but . . . my daughter wants to get some so I thought I would read up on them. Looks like and interesting book.
January 19, 2015
The go to book for raising goats!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews