Discover Goat Health Care, Updated 2nd Edition — practical guidance to help you better understand your goats, recognize health concerns, and provide the care they deserve.
Guides and stories written over two decades of raising, breeding, and caring for dairy goats at Mystic Acres.
The essential, field-tested reference for keeping a herd healthy — from everyday care to handling emergencies with confidence.
A friendly, complete introduction for first-time owners — breeds, housing, feeding, breeding, and day-to-day care.
A concise companion volume distilling the fundamentals every new goat keeper needs before bringing one home.
A focused guide to kidding season — recognizing labor, assisting safely, and handling common birthing complications.
Goat milk and cheese recipes gathered from years of publishing Ruminations, the Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Dairy Goat Magazine.
Pearl Kelly retires to a dream farm to raise dairy goats — until her dog finds a body on a hike, and the sheriff comes calling.
A prized goat vanishes at the Skunk Cabbage Festival, and Pearl's search uncovers far more than a missing animal.
Holistic Goat Care: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Healthy Animals, Preventing Common Ailments, and Troubleshooting Problems
I'm an editor, freelance writer, and former attorney who has raised a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf and Oberian dairy goats at Mystic Acres since 1998. I'm the author of Goat Health Care, Raising Goats For Dummies, Raising Goats: Some Essentials, and The Best of Ruminations Goat Milk and Cheese Recipes. From 2001 to 2007 I edited and published Ruminations, The Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Dairy Goat Magazine, and I still write about goats today in different magazines. In addition, I've written two books in the Hidden Creek Farm cozy mystery series: Shed Boy and Gone Goat.
I've spoken at goat conferences around the country on goat health care, and one of my passions is goat midwifery.
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A comprehensive, practical guide to keeping dairy goats healthy — from everyday care to recognizing the moment something's wrong, and knowing exactly what to do next.
“The herd teaches you patience, and patience teaches you everything else.” — Cheryl K. Smith
From everyday care to recognizing health problems, discover practical guidance covering feeding, breeding, kidding, veterinary treatments, and natural remedies—all in one comprehensive reference.
Learn to identify early warning signs and common illnesses.
Guidance on feeding, hoof trimming, and routine care.
Helpful information on breeding, kidding, and newborn care.
Explore veterinary treatments, home remedies, and herbal care.
After retiring from nursing, Pearl Kelly moves to a peaceful Oregon farm to fulfill her dream of raising miniature dairy goats. But when her Pomeranian, Buckley, discovers the body of her farmhand, Pat, her idyllic life takes a dark turn.
While the sheriff rules it an accident, Pearl suspects foul play. Determined to uncover the truth, she must solve the mystery while keeping her farm and dreams alive.
Learn moreA selection of recent pieces — from goat health to the wider world of small-farm and homestead animals.
Chokecherry, elderberry, Sudan grass and other plants that can release cyanide when goats eat them.
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What's behind a swollen face in a goat -- from insect stings to CLA abscesses -- and how to respond to each.
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Other plants and feed problems that can poison goats.
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A rundown of the supplies and equipment for milking goats.
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Why dipping the navel soon after birth helps prevent navel ill in newborn kids.
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Gastric emptying, THC toxicity, hormones and pesticides: the leading explanations for cannabinoid hyperemesis.
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A look at cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, its telltale signs, and what the Mayo Clinic case series found.
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Make this soft Indian cheese from goat milk, then use it in a spinach and paneer dish.
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The story of a runt kid raised in the kitchen who became the star of the Oregon State Fair.
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Advertising, fairs, signs, writing and speaking: ways to get your goats noticed by the right buyers.
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The requirements for certified organic goat milk and meat, and the challenges of meeting them.
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How to grow alfalfa on a small plot or hay on acres, plus equipment, harvesting, storage and pests.
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Which plants contain cardiac glycosides, what poisoning looks like in goats, and how to prevent it.
Read the article Blister beetles in alfalfa carry a toxin that survives baling. Learn how to recognize the risk and reduce it.
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What causes cryptorchidism in bucks, why these bucks should not be used for breeding, and the options for dealing with one.
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Pasture rotation, multispecies grazing and BioWorma can cut parasite loads and lessen reliance on dewormers.
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The life cycle, signs and diagnosis of liver flukes, and how treatment has moved from carbon tetrachloride to albendazole.
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How much water goats need, how to spot dehydration, and why kids should never be given water in a bottle.
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Kelp is a natural source of minerals and nutrients that can support poultry health. Learn how adding kelp to your flock’s diet may help promote better nutrition, stronger birds, and overall wellness.
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From entropion in kids to pinkeye and injury, here is how to spot and treat the most common eye issues goats face.
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A rescued Great Pyrenees mix runs away, survives alone in the woods for months, then comes home to become a devoted farm guardian.
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From composted manure to garden treats like carrots, beets and sunflowers, goats and gardens make a great pair.
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Colostrum gives newborn kids their first line of immunity. Here's why they need it fast, how much to give, and how to store it for later.
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The unrealistic expectations that lead many new owners to give up on goats, and how to avoid them.
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A look at organ-transplant waiting lists and what they mean for patients who use medical cannabis.
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How to recognize a healthy goat, and the everyday signs that one isn’t well.
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A physician’s cautions on cannabis use in hepatitis C, reported from the National Conference on Cannabinoid Medicine.
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Early-pandemic guidance for midwives and pregnant women, drawing on CDC and NHS advice.
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How to spot the signs that a doe is close to giving birth, and how to give her a clean, safe place to do it.
Read moreMagazines I regularly contribute to or edit for — follow along or subscribe to catch new pieces as they're published.
Understand the basics of goat kidding so you know what to look for in labor and how to recognize and deal with common problems that may occur.
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Articles on medical cannabis and health, including hepatitis C, kidney transplants and research on Oregon patients.
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Articles and regular media reviews on birth, midwifery and maternal health. Some are free to read; others require a Midwifery Today membership.
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Excerpts and companion articles on goat health, kidding, milking, shelter and handling.
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Cheryl K. Smith has written, edited and published across animals, midwifery, health, law and fiction, always aiming to make complex subjects clear, thoughtful and useful to the reader.
Practical nonfiction like Goat Health Care and Goat Midwifery, plus the Hidden Creek Farm mysteries.
Magazine and journal writing on animal care, birth, health, law and medical cannabis.
Edited a dairy-goat magazine, serves as managing editor of Midwifery Today, and has edited books for Motherbaby Press.
Owner of Karmadillo Press, publishing work rooted in hands-on experience and independent inquiry.
"The book I keep by the barn door. Talked me through my first difficult kidding, step by step, when I couldn't reach my vet."— Amazon reviewer, Goat Health Care
"The most comprehensive guide to goat health and goat care I’ve read, and I’ve read many."— George H., Amazon verified purchase
"Clear, practical, and never condescending. This is the guide I hand to every new goat owner in our club."— Amazon reviewer, Raising Goats For Dummies
"This book is a great resource. It's well organized and the explanations are clear."— Sommer, Amazon verified purchase
"Cheryl's conference talks are as good as her books — practical, warm, and clearly from decades of hands-on experience."— Attendee, Oregon Dairy Goat Association
"Very helpful and explanatory when it comes to illness and everyday farm management of goats."— Jeanne C. Barrow, Amazon verified purchase
"So much great information in this book beyond the basics, including dosages, which is so helpful."— S. Searing, Amazon verified purchase
"I am so happy I bought this book. I grab it often to reference things. Really well written."— DeAnna Haase, Amazon
"Easy to read, good, informative solutions to problems you might have. Fast to find the right chapter. I consider it good advice."— Paula J.K., Amazon
"If you are thinking of raising goats, this is a great resource to have. It is full of useful and informative content. Great for your bookshelf of reference materials."— Craig Katcher, Amazon
"If you're a beginner to goats then this book is for you. So much information to goat care and health. Wish I would of found it sooner."— Amazon Customer, Amazon