Meat Goats : Their History, Management and Diseases [Paperback]

Stephanie Mitcham; Allison Mitcham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 2006 | ISBN-10: 096644762X | ISBN-13: 978-0966447620 | Edition: 2nd

NEW EDITION RELEASED DECEMBER 2006. 288 PAGES PACKED WITH INFORMATION. TWO NEW CHAPTERS. Nineteen chapters and 11 Appendices discuss the history of the meat goat, management, getting started in the goat business, goat selection and record keeping, facilities, feeders and fencing, handling systems, nutrition, grazing management, routine procedures, kid production, diseases, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, showing, guard animals, herding dogs, healthy and delicious meat and many other topics. Appendix X: Can Sheep and Goats be Raised Together? and XI: My Mother was right! Processed Foods are Bad for You (and Your Animals!) and can be Poisonous! are new. Appendix XI contains information on preventing and coping with various errors that can be made by nutritionists and feed mills. Meat Goats, their History, Management and Diseases has been written especially for North Americans whose interest in raising goats for their healthful and delicious meat (chevon) has burgeoned in the past decade. Prior to this time, only a relatively small number of farmers and ranchers in this part of the world raised goats - mostly Angoras in Texas (for mohair) or milk goats (for their especially digestible milk products) - although 'Spanish' or 'brush' goats have long been a presence in the South (particularly in Texas). Since goats are not indigenous to this continent, the authors of this book have discussed the pros and cons of recent imports (such as the Boer and Kiko) as well as the more established 'Spanish' goat. [9 breeds in all have been considered.] The authors have not only set down their opinions and experiences but have cited those of recognized goat experts worldwide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nineteen chapters and 11 Appendices discuss the history of the meat goat, meat goats in the United States, management, getting started in the goat business, goat selection and record keeping, facilities, feeders and fencing, handling systems, nutrition, grazing management, routine procedures, kid production, diseases, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, showing, guard animals, herding dogs, healthy and delicious meat, meat goat calendar and many other topics. Appendix X: Can Sheep and Goats be Raised Together? and XI: My Mother was right! Processed Foods are Bad for You (and Your Animals!) and can be Poisonous! are new. Appendix XI contains information on preventing and coping with various errors that can be made by nutritionists and feed mills. Meat Goats, their History, Management and Diseases has been written especially for North Americans whose interest in raising goats for their healthful and delicious meat (chevon) has burgeoned in the past decade. Prior to this time, only a relatively small number of farmers and ranchers in this part of the world raised goats - mostly Angoras in Texas (for mohair) or milk goats (for their especially digestible milk products) - although 'Spanish' or 'brush' goats have long been a presence in the South (particularly in Texas). Since goats are not indigenous to this continent, the authors of this book have discussed the pros and cons of recent imports (such as the Boer and Kiko) as well as the more established 'Spanish' goat. [9 breeds in all have been considered.] The authors have not only set down their opinions and experiences but have cited those of recognized goat experts worldwide. --CCP January 2007

"Meat Goats, Their History, Management and Diseases" is a valuable reference you will turn to again and again." ."If you are in the meat goat business, this book needs to be in your library." --Stockman Grass Farmer, Staff Report, March 2001

"I recently had the pleasure of reviewing a just released book that belongs in every goat breeder's reference library." "The appendix includes a large number of tables and references. This list [of references] alone is worth the price of the book." --Boergoats.com web site

About the Author

Stephanie and Allison Mitcham have had a wide and longstanding acquaintance with goats and books. Stephanie, a veterinary pathologist, has been raising goats (Angoras, Boers, Savannas) in the midwest for many years. Her detailed Diseases chapter, which according to one well qualified reviewer, "offers clear, understandable methods of treatment with symptoms well-described" is a special bonus - as are her many management tips resulting from her extensive experience.

Allison has more than 20 books to her credit and many articles.

Together Stephanie and Allison have collaborated on a number of published articles and on their best-selling book (in both North America and Europe) on Angora goats, now in a second edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crane Creek Pubns; 2nd edition (December 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096644762X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966447620
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reliable reference for DVM's and producers alike!, August 1, 2008

By 

J. Sampson "Veterinarian" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meat Goats : Their History, Management and Diseases (Paperback)

This is a well written book suitable for everyone from the history buff to the producer raising meat goats for profit. It provides excellent coverage on a wide variety of topics including species and breed history, practical and advanced animal husbandry, and thorough explanation of animal disease including parasitism, metabolic disease, reproduction, and infectious and contagious disease.

The sections covering veterinary care are as thorough as most any veterinary textbook but are presented in a concise and practical format. This user-friendly presentation makes the book great for quickly referencing material, making it a must-have for any goat producer, meat or otherwise. The sections on diseases cover many of the questions I frequently receive regarding symptom identification. Having this book as a reference would certainly enable most goat raisers to become proficient enough to recognize and treat themselves many of the common disease conditions that afflict goats, if they were so inclined. Additionally, because the book outlines the pathophysiology of many of the disease processes, they will also gain the basic knowledge necessary to understand not only what they are treating but also how it happened. In doing so, producers will be better equipped to address issues with their own stock more proactively.

As a veterinarian practicing in the "age of the internet," I've encountered countless client stories of misinformation obtained "online" regarding animal health. It is refreshing to have clients reference a reliable source of information written by someone who is experienced not only as a meat goat producer but also as a veterinarian, as is Dr. Mitcham. I recommend it to my clients and have used it as a reference myself on more than one occasion!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meat Goats, history,management and diseases, May 13, 2005

By 

sheep crazy "Sidney" (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meat Goats : Their History, Management and Diseases (Paperback)

I found this book packed full of useful information, in an easy to read and interesting format. The history section alone is worth the price of the book. I use it as a reference book, but also is great for recreational reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING REFERENCE BOOK FOR ANYONE WITH MEAT GOATS, October 25, 2007

By 

LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARIAN "P SEXTON DVM" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meat Goats : Their History, Management and Diseases (Paperback)

DR. MITCHAM DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DESCRIBING ALL ASPECTS OF RAISING MEAT GOATS. THIS EXTREMELY COMPLETE AND DETAILED BOOK IS A MUST FOR BOTH THE BEGINNER AND THE EXPERIENCED GOAT RAISER. THIS BOOK IS BASIC ENOUGH FOR SOMEONE NEW TO THE MEAT GOAT INDUSTRY AS WELL AS PROVIDING PLENTY OF INFORMATION FOR ADVANCED GOAT FARMERS/RANCHERS.