British Goats

About this book

Ever wondered why a goat's eyes have rectangular pupils? Or what happened to Thor's goats each day after they finished pulling his thunderous chariot? Do goat's milk, cheese and meat represent more ethical food choices than cow and sheep products, and if so, can goat farming play an important role in humankind's future? Whether you're an aspiring smallholder, cheese fanatic or simply want to know more about our caprine companions, British Goats introduces the fascinating history and folklore of goats and examines the development of goatkeeping in Britain, shedding light on one of our most intelligent, curious and mischievous domestic animals. It also explains the origins and features of the sixteen British goat breeds and the qualities of their products, and even has a few craft and recipe ideas for you to try.

Contents

- Introduction
- A Survival Story
- Culture, Myth and Folklore
- Anatomy and Behaviour
- British Goat Breeds
- Goat Produce
- The Future of Goatkeeping
- Craft and Recipe Ideas

Further Reading
Places to Visit
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Tiffany Francis is a nature writer and artist from the South Downs, Hampshire with a Masters in English Literature from University College London. Before going freelance, she worked as Creative Developer and goatkeeper at Butser Ancient Farm, an experimental archaeology site with rare breed animals and Stone Age to Saxon buildings, where she developed an interest in the history of goats, won rosettes at the Rare Breeds Show in Singleton, and learnt to milk by hand and make cheese and soap. She was also a committee member for the English Goat Breeders' Association, and in December 2017 she appeared with her goats on Kirstie's Handmade Christmas on Channel 4. Her first book Food You Can Forage was published by Bloomsbury in March 2018, and her next book Dark Skies is due in Autumn 2019, all about exploring the landscape at night. She has written for The Guardian, BBC Radio 4, Woodland Trust, Current Archaeology and a number of other publications, including two articles on goats for Countryfile magazine and The Countryman, both due to be published in the next few months.