The
raising of goats for meat is an important industry in the U. S. and around the world. With the current availability of
excellent meat goat breeding stock of the Boer, Kiko and Tennessee Fainting breeds, it is becoming a more profitable industry.Author Gail Bowman of Idaho, USA draws on her own experience
raising meat goats and that of other American goat breeders for this book. The
advice in this book is practical for real world goat raising situations.The book begins with full descriptions of the three main meat goat breeds available in the US, Boer, Kiko, and Tennessee Fainting (Myotonic). There is also practical advice on how to select appropriate female goats, either of meat or dairy breeds, to be bred to a fullblood meat goat buck. The chapter on the kidding season is very good. It includes detailed information on signs that a female goat may be about to give birth in the next few days or hours. There is a series of photographs illustrating a goat giving birth. There is also a section on birthing problems in goats--- breech birth, head turned back, one leg turned back, and tail first breech--- and what to do to assist the goat in such situations.There is advice on feeding goats, breeding--- both the old fashioned way and the high tech methods of AI and embryo transfer--- health issues of goats, showing goats, selling goats, pregnancy and kidding (birthing) in goats, goat facilities (pens and shelters) and also recipes for chevon (goat meat). Though the book is centered on US goat raising conditions it should be of use to goat farmers from around the world. The author of this abstract, a Boer goat breeder, finds this to be the most helpful single book for the goat farmer whether a beginner or more experienced.