[Daisys Mum]

 
Having read through lots of the posts on here I realise how little I actually know about goats so what would you recomend as a useful reference book to have.

[jaykay]

David Harwood's 'Goat health and welfare' is good.

[Anke]

"The new goat hand book" by Ulrich Jaudas, probably available through www.abebooks.co.uk  or Amazon secondhand. My absolute favourite for an introduction - short, precise and really all you need to know to get started.
I do like Mackenzie too, but I am bit of a nerd    and maybe it isn't really geared for anything else than dairy and a bit on meat goats.

[jinglejoys]

David Mac kenzie early version is all you need and forget the vet books they'll scare you silly and you'll end up zapping all their immunities

[Penninehillbilly]

Check out your local library, and their listings of books kept at other local libraries.
I have an early (70s?) McKenzies as well, but I also have about 7 others I like to dip into.

[wytsend]

John Matthews.......Diseases of the goat.                Whuilst this is aimed at thw more experienced goat keeper & Vets,  it does contain a mine of right up to date info.
I have a copy that I keep to hand,  more particularly in case my Vet requires detail of dosages and recomended drugs ,    but it is fscinating reading....
John Matthew is also willing to talk to your own Vet about medical details.

[plumseverywhere]

As well as the books listed, I would also say some of the monthly magazine/journals.   I have country smallholding (I think it it?!) delivered (the one that Anke is in!!) and its so up to date with current goat keeping info and news its invaluable.

As well as that, if you can join a local goat club you will find it very helpful. Ours meets monthly and again you get to hear of recent news etc but also face to face support from other goaty people who you can then share costs of vaccines/large hay deliveries etc and so on 

[jinglejoys]

Smallholder was started for goat people (Half goats half everything else)now you barely see a goat mentioned just pages of bloomin chickens.
Think there's only one or two pages in CS occasionally I dont get either any more, stopped CS when Katie stopped doing it still think it went downhill after it changed from PSS
Is Veronica Mayhew still going I used to get lots of goat books off her