Book Review: Raising Goats Naturally by Deborah Niemann

Deborah Niemann’s Raising Goats Naturally is an insightful resource for anyone interested in raising goats in a natural way. She does not follow the factory farm approach nor does she promote a strict non-medicated, organic approach. This guide combines practical advice with a philosophy centered on creating harmony between the needs of goats, the environment, and the keeper. The book offers a look at raising goats for milk, meat, fiber, and other uses while maintaining their health and well-being through natural methods. She is not opposed to medical intervention to save the life of a goat, but also does not promote medication just for the sake of medicating.

I found the book to be an easy read and well suited to a beginning goat keeper or someone who has basic to intermediate experience with goats. It’s a great resource to have in your farm book library and gives great information for those times when you are experiencing something new with your herd.

There are three basic parts to the book:

1. Planning, Purchasing, and Protecting;

2. Raising, Remedies, and Reproduction; and

3. Milk, Meat, and More.

Briefly, Part 1, Planning Purchasing and Protecting deals with the groundwork for selecting the right breed for your needs, building housing, installing fencing, and protecting the goats from predators. Various goat breeds are discussed along with traits of each breed whether for milk, meat, fiber, or companion animal. Housing covers how to keep your goat comfortable and this section concludes with strategies for protecting your goats from predators.

Part 2, Raising Remedies, and Reproduction addresses nutrition, health issues, and breeding. This is the “heart” of the book and goes into more detail. Daily care routines, nutritional needs, health issues and illnesses, and breeding and birthing are covered in this section.

Finally, part 3, Milk, Meat, and More, touches on how to use your goats. For milking goats, making cheese, yogurt, and butter are discussed. Additionally information is provided on soap making from goat milk. Butchering, processing, and cooking goat meat is also included.

Overall, Raising Goats Naturally in my opinion is centered primarily around dairy goats and is written more for the beginner to intermediate level goat keeper. While information is included on meat and fiber breeds, I did not find those areas to be as detailed as the dairy breeds. The book is a great resource for homesteaders, hobby farmers, and anyone interested in natural livestock management. It is packed with practical tips and advice on goat care and utilizing goat products, and will empower readers to care for their goats confidently and with a sustainable approach.

– Review by Bren at Pioneer Mountain Homestead