The Beginner's Guide to Raising Goats

by Amber Bradshaw

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats is a tutorial and instruction guide to goat-keeping by Amber Bradshaw. Due out 14th July 2020 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 180 pages (for the print copy) and available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook is available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The author has an inviting and engaging style of writing and does a great job of sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for goats and quality goat husbandry. The introductory chapters cover the positive benefits of goatkeeping and some of what's entailed in adding goats to the reader's life, choosing goats (to prevent potential problems later), and preparing a home which will suit them (and you). The following chapters cover subjects more deeply: structures, cleanliness, training, routine care and maintenance, health & breeding, producing milk, meat (and processing), goats for fiber, and food recipes for meat & dairy.

Recipe ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are in American standard only. Tips and alternatives for the recipes are contained in highlighted text boxes. The book includes a short author bio, but lacks any index, metric conversions, or a general ingredients list. The bibliography and resource lists will provide lots of possibilities for further learning and reading.

This is a useful and well written book. It's graphically appealing and typeset in a clear, easy to read font, but the photography is not abundant. This would not be my *first* choice for a goatkeeping book to learn from, but it would make an excellent choice to add to the homesteader's (or those interested in living a more self-sustaining lifestyle) libraries.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.