Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats

Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats

Students (and parents!) will discover everything they need to know to raise healthy, happy dairy goats while gaining valuable life skills in animal care, homesteading, and self-sufficiency.

Topics include:

• Basic information about goats, common terms, and myths vs. facts
• A brief history of goats and an overview of popular dairy breeds
• How to choose the right breed and determine which goats best fit your needs
• Understanding goat milk—its benefits, flavor, and how it compares to cow’s milk
• The difference between raw and pasteurized milk
• How to find, evaluate, and bring home your first goat
• Setting up ideal housing, gates, latches, and fencing for safety and comfort
• Feeding essentials, including nutrition, digestion, and formulating rations
• Grooming and care techniques such as hoof trimming, disbudding, tattooing, and hair care
• Recognizing signs of illness and using veterinary care effectively
• How to manage and care for bucks, from breeding to daily routines
• Breeding and kidding—preparation, delivery, and caring for newborn kids
• Step-by-step guidance on milking, equipment, and milk storage
• Record-keeping, budgeting, and tracking costs of goat ownership
• Raising goats for meat (chevon), including processing and marketing
• Making and preserving dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, kefir, and buttermilk
• Fun and practical recipes using goat milk and meat, plus soapmaking with goat milk

From choosing your first goat to crafting homemade dairy goods, this guide offers a complete foundation in dairy goat care and homestead management.