Currently, in the united states, there is a higher demand for goat meat, also called chevon, than there is a supply. Discover how raising your own meat goats can be a fun and profitable endeavor. Raising goats by andrew ebooks nook book ebook barnes. United states production is centered in westcentral texas, particularly in and around san angelo and menard. The truth about keeping backyard goats as a city homesteader for the last 23 years, i couldnt be happier about the current trends aimed at a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and our families. If youre looking for a complete beginners guide to raising boer goats for profit, youve landed in the right place. Niche or artisanal farmers looking for a profitable specialty should search no further. Diseases and disorders of sheep and goats by karl a. Getting started with meat goat farming backyard goats. There is another book that is a must have for new goat farmers. Mar 14, 2019 this is part one of a series about meat goat farming. The nigerian dwarf and mini dairy goat magazine and goat health care. Storeys guide to raising meat goats, 2nd edition by maggie sayer. Gail has a bachelors degree in education, and many years of teaching and writing experience.
Offering plenty of tips for creating an economically viable operation and identifying niche markets for your products, storeys guide to raising meat goats shows you how to care for a thriving and productive herd full of healthy and happy animals. There are certain things that these animals are particular about and once you read this guide you will see what you need to do to keep them happy. Specific breeds are discussed later in this manual. When a wealthy land owner contacted me for brush control services i decided to invest in a bunch of meat goats. Raising meat goats for profit is gails first book, however she is very excited to announce that she has a new book out called country tales. Raising goats for milk and meat new revised edition rosalee sinn. Click download or read online button to storey s guide to raising meat goats book pdf for free now. A lot of people around the world eat goat meat, which is lean and delicious. For starters, understanding the stages of goat maturity and using accurate terminology will help you in your research. Storeys guide to raising meat goats book premier1supplies. Download storey s guide to raising meat goats ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Health papers are only good for 30 days, so make sure that you know what dates you will be at the shows. Hands downi love gail bowmans raising meat goats for profit.
I just finished reading his book, raising meat goats in a commercial operation, and, let me tell you, this book would have made life a lot easier if id read it a year after we started raising goats on our ranch. So if youre in the same boat i was, maybe some handson advice is just what you need to really turn your operation around. In particular, the boer goat which was developed in south africa in the early 1900s, is a popular choice for producers. Raising goats for food, profit, and fun ebook written by yvonne zweedetucker. If you are interested in raising your own herd, here are some tips on how to raise boer goats. Raising meat goats in a commercial operation advice. The truth about keeping backyard goats living homegrown. Goats provide milk, meat, fiber, and hide which raisers can sell or use for themselves. A wonderful resource for goat breeders, raising meat goats for profit includes information about the meat breeds, how to get started with meat production, easy to use feed ration tables, real advice for new breeders, kidding and raising kids, how to sell your goats, uptodate information about health and diseases, recipe book, 250 pages of user friendly information. Storeys guide to raising meat goats by maggie sayer goodreads. Ive had the pleasure of helping other new producers get started with meat goats with the goal of helping them. Meat goats are generally not used for milking, and some even have traits that make them undesirable to milk.
If you want to use goats for milk production, or as a meat source, or to grow your fiber herd, theres a lot more to good breeding practices than just doing the deed. Rasing your own goats for meat can give you a greener, more sustainable lifestyle. In 1997 gail began writing humorous and informational articles for several magazines. Or is your friend thinking of raising a herd of milk breeds. Goats need some kind of shelter from the elements and a safe place to bunk down. Its fairly easy to keep dairy goats and raise the bucks for meat since you have to breed your does to keep them in milk and roughly half of all kids are male. A wonderful resource for goat breeders, raising meat goats for profit includes information about the meat breeds, how to get started with meat production, easy to. The demand for tasty, lowfat goat meat is rapidly growing and, compared to other. This is part one of a series about meat goat farming. My initial success renting out my male goats to eat weeds led me to dream bigger. Feb 03, 2017 raising goats for beginners picking your goats. Growing vegetables and fruits in our backyards, canning to preserve fresh food for later, cooking from scratch and raising small flocks of backyard. Share with us your views, suggestions, experiences, and questions in the comment section below. Are you looking for goats to milk or meat goats to sell.
Mature does weigh 190230 pounds, while bucks can weigh 200340 pounds. Storeys guide to raising meat goats, 2nd edition storey publishing. A wonderful resource for goat breeders, raising meat goats for profit includes information about the meat breeds, how to get started with meat production, easy to use feed ration tables, real advice for new breeders, kidding and raising kids, how to sell your goats, uptodate informations about health and diseases, recipe book, 250 pages of user friendly information. Even on the first cross, the size is greatly increased. Sayer thoroughly explains the basics of selecting a breed, buying the goats, and raising healthy animals. An adult pygmy goat weights about 75 pounds and stand about 16 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder. Best book on goats welcome to the homesteading today forum. Before buying goats, decide whether you want to raise them for yourself or in order to sell meat or milk.
We are just starting to raise goats and need all the help we can get. The boer is the main meat breed in the united states. This great informational guide to goat husbandry, marketing meat goats and the meat breeds, is available from bowman communication press at 276 n. Storeys guide to raising dairy goats premier1supplies. Buy a cheap copy of raising meat goats for profit book by gail b.
Dean oswald, animal systems educator university of illinois extension. Storeys guide and raising goats for dummies give very good information on a lot of topics. Raising meat goats in a commercial operation advice from. Author greg christiansen draws on his years of experience in raising meat goats on a commercial scale to explain the principles of managing meat goats as a viable farm business. Raising meat goats for profit by gail bowman boer goats.
Raising meat goats for profit is an enjoyable, nononsense tool for new goat raisers, with important, updated information for experienced breeders as well. A comprehensive guide to goat breeding for beginners. Though this book contains a ton of information about raising goats for meat that many other books do not contain. Given proper care, the does should be capable of maintaining a birth rate of 1. Raising meat goats can be a profitable small farm venture.
The demand for tasty, lowfat goat meat is rapidly growing and, compared to other livestock, meat goats are inexpensive to buy, easy to handle, and less laborintensive. When it comes to raising goats for beginners the first step is choosing what type of goat you want. Dec 27, 2011 guide to raising dairy goats book 18006244493. Guide for raising pygmy goats modern farming methods. When you are raising and caring for them you must be their nurturer provider. Boer goat crossbreeds are highly desirable to improve the characteristics of other goats. With expert advice on selecting the best breed for your needs, maintaining facilities, and providing necessary medical attention, this guide covers all aspects of successfully keeping meat goats. This article is an excerpt from the new book, raising meat goats for profit by gail bowman. Interest in meat goats has increased dramatically in illinois in the last few years. Many small farmers or backyard raisers have found that they can earn from raising goats.
Boer does reach sexual maturity at about 5 months of age. Offering plenty of tips for creating an economically viable operation and. Boer goats have a high resistance to disease and adapt well to hot, dry semi deserts. Raising meat goats is an excellent proposition for todays livestock farmer.
Kelli griffith 1, glenn rask2, kraig peel 3, steve levalley 4, and celina johnson 5 1 graduate student, extension education 2 associate professor, extension education 3 assistant professor, animal sciences 4 extension sheep specialist 5 youth livestock specialist. I am sure there are other books that work well also. There are nine species generally accepted as true goats with around three hundred breeds. Storeys guide to raising meat goats by maggie sayer, 9781603425827, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Boer and meat goat resources, books, supplies boer goats. Tips on raising boer goats book guide on raising boer. Mar 20, 2020 or is your friend thinking of raising a herd of milk breeds. Richard cobb, extension sheep and meat goat specialist, university of illinois. The defining factor for raising meat goats is how well you can control the worm load. I purchased the book thru heifer international for only 15. May 05, 2016 my initial success renting out my male goats to eat weeds led me to dream bigger. Now author maggie sayer adds storeys guide to raising meat goats to the popular series that has guided countless farmers through the daytoday tasks of animal care. When raising goats for meat production only, youll want to consider mixed breed does and a full breed buck.
Ive had the pleasure of helping other new producers get started with meat goats with the goal of helping them learn and succeed as well as growing the industry. The complete guide to raising meat goats for profit. Author greg christiansen draws on his years of experience in raising meat goats on a commercial scale to explain the principles of managing meat goats as a viable farm. Best book on goats welcome to the homesteading today. Guide to raising dairy goats book includes information on selection, housing, space requirements, breeding and. If i were still publishing farm magazines i would definitely be shouting the news to my readers.
Goats are one of the oldest species of domesticated animals. So if youre in the same boat i was, maybe some hands on advice is just what you need to really turn your operation around. Many ethnic groups who live in the united statesfrom hispanic to eastern european to southeastern asianrely on the lean, tasty meat as a protein staple. Buy a cheap copy of storeys guide to raising meat goats book by maggie sayer. Boer goats are often used as terminal sires animals whose offspring will be sold for meat, regardless of gender. Everything you wanted to know about raising meat goats but.
An increasing demand for goat meat, spurred by a growing ethnic population in chicago and throughout the state, has. The boer goat was developed in south africa as a breed meant solely for meat production. Smith has raised a small herd of dairy goats under the herd name mystic acres since 1998. While there are many books about raising meat goats available, this one is different in that it is the only book that addresses how to manage meat goats on a commercial scale. The idea was to buy them as young as possible, raise them up fast on the kudzu, blackberry canes, privet, poison ivy, english ivy, and the other. Inside of it you will need to keep any health certificates which are mandatory at all state and major shows. Storeys guide to raising meat goats by maggie sayer. I literally read it each nighti know, i have the goat bug bad. Storeys guide to raising meat goats, 2nd edition storey.
She has boer goats, but topics about dairy goats come up often in the book. As with any venture, there are cons to raising goats as well. Jun 21, 2005 hands downi love gail bowmans raising meat goats for profit. Over the past six years, i have learned so much about raising meat goats. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the meat goat handbook. And as more and more people look for ways to live sustainably and grow their own food, goats are a wonderful option for raising meat and milk, and you can harvest their fleece, as well. Special thanks to individuals who helped with this book annette froman, administrative assistant. Goats are smart and curious, and they will head out into the. Stay tuned for more advice from curt rush, such as breeding and nutrition, dealing with health issues, and marketing meat goats for profit. Gail bowman lives in twin falls, idaho with her husband and their 5 children. Keep in mind that a single doe will produce 90 quarts of fresh milk every month for 10 months of the year.
Meat goats have a reputation for high fertility, averaging 98 percent of does bred under good management and nutrition. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Whether youre raising goats for food or as the smart, lovable pets they can be, you need to know a few things about caring for your herd. When raising boer goats for show, a show book is a very convenient item to keep inside of your show box or vehicle. Storeys guide to raising meat goats book by maggie sayer. Raising goats for milk and meat new revised edition rosalee sinn paul rudenberg illustrations by barbara carter. My name is curt rush and my wife and i have been raising meat goatsboer goats for 14 years, starting with commercial does and a commercial buck. The decision as a youth project, meat goats are po pular because of the comparably short time, small investment, and minimal facilities that are needed for success. Read storeys guide to raising meat goats, 2nd edition by maggie sayer for free with a 30 day free trial. Although meat goats are polyestrous, peak sexual activity occurs during the autumn months. Download pdf storey s guide to raising meat goats free. I nominate raising meat goats for profit as one of the best howto books for the 21st century. The best way to raise goats for profit is to start either a goat meat farm, or a goat dairy farm. My name is curt rush and my wife and i have been raising meat goats boer goats for 14 years, starting with commercial does and a commercial buck.