Discovering the Joys of Raising Goats
I’ve been raising goats since 1998, and I’m still not tired of them. In fact, I can’t imagine my life without them. Talk to any other serious goalkeepers and you hear that after they get “in your blood” you have to have at least a couple.
When you get a sense of goats’ many uses and get to know their unique qualities, goats will get in your blood, too. Goats are more than livestock, they’re friends and helpmates, and they’re entertaining as heck.
Goats have been called the poor man’s cow but a better name for them would be the “green” cow. They take up less space, cost less to feed, and even contribute less to global warming because they don’t emit as much methane gas. On top of all that, they’re smart, friendly, and easy to manage with the proper set-up. This chapter introduces you to the benefits of raising goats and lets you know what you can expect from the experience.
Finding Goat Basics
Goats are intelligent and friendly animals. They come in all sizes (but only one shape) and can help you in numerous ways. After you decide what you want to accomplish with them, you have a lot of breeds to choose from. (All goat owners have their favorite, which they can talk about endlessly.) Check out Chapter 3 for a rundown of goat breeds.
Goats are unique animals within the ruminant classification. Ruminants are also known as “cud-chewing” animals, or as having four stomachs. You can find out more about their digestive systems in Chapter 2, as well as how to tell them from sheep, what makes a healthy goat, and how goats communicate with you and each other.
Being responsible for goats is a serious undertaking. I say “goats” because goats need a herd to be happy, so you shouldn’t get just one goat. You can read more about why you need at least two goats and other ways to keep them happy in Part II.
These critters can live for seven years or more, so getting goats is like getting a dog — you may be taking care of them for quite a while. Chapter 2 tells you about their life expectancy.
When you get a sense of goats’ many uses and get to know their unique qualities, goats will get in your blood, too. Goats are more than livestock, they’re friends and helpmates, and they’re entertaining as heck.
Goats have been called the poor man’s cow but a better name for them would be the “green” cow. They take up less space, cost less to feed, and even contribute less to global warming because they don’t emit as much methane gas. On top of all that, they’re smart, friendly, and easy to manage with the proper set-up. This chapter introduces you to the benefits of raising goats and lets you know what you can expect from the experience.
Finding Goat Basics
Goats are intelligent and friendly animals. They come in all sizes (but only one shape) and can help you in numerous ways. After you decide what you want to accomplish with them, you have a lot of breeds to choose from. (All goat owners have their favorite, which they can talk about endlessly.) Check out Chapter 3 for a rundown of goat breeds.
Goats are unique animals within the ruminant classification. Ruminants are also known as “cud-chewing” animals, or as having four stomachs. You can find out more about their digestive systems in Chapter 2, as well as how to tell them from sheep, what makes a healthy goat, and how goats communicate with you and each other.
Being responsible for goats is a serious undertaking. I say “goats” because goats need a herd to be happy, so you shouldn’t get just one goat. You can read more about why you need at least two goats and other ways to keep them happy in Part II.
These critters can live for seven years or more, so getting goats is like getting a dog — you may be taking care of them for quite a while. Chapter 2 tells you about their life expectancy.
Glimpsing the Benefits of Owning Goats
Goats are fantastic animals that have been domesticated for more than 10,000 years. You get a lot from a relatively small animal — you can milk them or eat their meat, use their fiber and their skin for making clothing, and even use their dung for fuel (if you are so inclined). In the past, goat hide was made into bags for carrying water and wine and parchment for writing on; it is still used to make drums in some countries.
You may want to raise goats for a variety of reasons. Whatever brings you to goats, you’re guaranteed to find additional benefits to owning these critters after you start working with them.
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