Book Review: Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell

Holistic Goat Care: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Healthy Animals, Preventing Common Ailments, and Troubleshooting Problems by Gianaclis Caldwell

 What Is Holistic Goat Care About?

If you’re new to raising goats, you’re probably a little overwhelmed and looking for a few good books to get you started.  Holistic Goat Care is a great one to have on your shelf. 

Holistic Goat Care is written by a nurse-turned-goat farmer, and her previous experience shines through in the writing.  Caldwell manages to write a guide (more like a textbook) that is packed full of valuable information, but in a format that is easy to reference and understand.   

The book is full of pictures, charts, and illustrations, and thoroughly explains details and terms that might be glossed over in other texts.  If you’re brand new to raising goats, it’s a book you’ll want to read cover to cover.  It also contains a valuable glossary and a long list of resources where you can find further information.

However, one thing to be aware of with this book (and others like it) is that it can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the things that can go wrong and all of the things that you don’t know.  Remember, this is a guide and a text, not a list of things that are guaranteed to go wrong with your goat.

The book covers everything from breeding to feeding to herd management and goat health.  It includes 8 chapters breaking down the various systems (respiratory, muscular, etc.) and discussing how to keep goats healthy and what diseases can affect goats system by system. 

In my opinion, Holistic Goat Care is one of the most informative, well-written books you can get on goats without crossing over into the world of veterinary textbooks (an expensive and complicated world). 

Who is This Book Good For?

This book is good for anyone new to raising goats, or anyone interested in a more holistic approach to managing their animals. 

If you want to feel more empowered to take care of your animals and manage their health, this is the book for you.  Whether you prefer a conventional approach or an alternative approach, this book will give you the confidence to start caring for your animals. 

Everything from conventional wormers to herbal medicines and OTC treatments are discussed.  There is even a chapter on “Advanced Skills, Procedures and Management” that discusses advanced methods of caring for your animals that are often performed by veterinarians, but could be learned by the goat farmer.

If you want to take more of your goats care into your own hands, raise healthy goats, and are a hands-on type of person, this is the book for you! 

Is it Worth the Space on Your Bookshelf?

If you own goats, this is a book you must have.  Holistic Goat Care is a great reference and indispensable for new goat owners who are learning the ropes, or people who have had goats for a while but are interested in learning more and having healthier, happier goats.  While it’s a little more expensive than some other books on goats that are out there, it is more than worth it.