For the Love of Goats

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/americans-experience-with-goats-in-kenya/  --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!  Description In this fascinating episode, Deborah Niemann sits down with Mark Hicks , an author and adventurer, to discuss his unforgettable experience with goats during a trip to Kenya. Mark’s journey was part of his seminary doctorate progra...

As goat owners, understanding diseases that can affect our herds is crucial for maintaining healthy animals and preventing the spread of illnesses. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Linda Detwiler, staff veterinarian on the sheep and goat health staff at the USDA APHIS Veterinary Service, to discuss scrapie , a neurological disease affecting sheep and goats. Dr. Detwiler provides a...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hermaphroditism-freemartinism-goat-infertility/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!  Description When our does have trouble conceiving, our minds often tend to go toward infectious causes. But there are non-infectious causes of infertility to consider as well.  In this episode, Dr. Fauna Smith, Assistant Professor of Liv...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/c-section-in-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply!  Description In this episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the emotional and educational story of Caboose, the first goat on her farm to undergo a C-section. As part of the podcast’s fifth-anniversary celebration, Deborah reflects on the challenges, lessons learned, a...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/sharing-milk-with-baby-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description The answer to, “When can I start milking my doe?” is not as simple as listing the specific age of the kids. In this episode, we are discussing the complexities of sharing milk with baby goats and offering practical advice for goat owners who wan...

Happy anniversary to us! FTLOG is five years old! As we enter our sixth year, you can continue to count on us to help you cut through the clutter of conflicting information out there so that you can be confident that your goats will be living their best lives!  You can expect to hear from more goat experts like veterinary professors and published scientists who are on the leading edge of goat rese...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/uterine-rupture-and-hemorrhage-in-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this deeply personal and emotional episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the heartbreaking story of her goat, Coco, who experienced a uterine rupture and hemorrhage during a challenging kidding in 2013.  Deborah takes listeners on a...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-australia/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description As goat owners in America, we know the challenges we face in caring for our herds here at home. But what is it like to breed and raise goats in another country? In this episode, Sue Ludwig and Jade Holberton are here to talk about raising goats in...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/blood-transfusion-in-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description There have been instances where a goat owner watched a severely parasitized, anemic goat die because they did not realize that a life-saving blood transfusion was an option for their animal. Surprising as it may be, it is! In this episode, Dr. Rya...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/nigerian-dwarf-goats-in-adga/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description The Nigerian Dwarf goat has become a staple breed in the American Dairy Goat Association, and it has only grown in popularity since first arriving in the US from Africa in the 20th century. But how did these wonderful goats climb the ladder from...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-conformation/  --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Show goats are held to strict conformational standards, but we often overlook the fact that our own herds would benefit from those same conformational standards. Extra teats, bad legs, weak pasterns, and crooked faces may sound as though they aren’t that...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/rent-a-goat/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Delve into the business of goat landscaping , also known as targeted grazing, goatscaping, and even rent-a-goat. In this business, your herd is hired by a landowner to clear off an overgrown plot of land. This has the potential to create a triple win as the goat...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/guardian-llamas/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Have you been considering getting a guard llama for your herd? You may have many questions such as: where can I find a good guard llama? How much should I expect to pay? Are there traits I should look for? What about the importance of age and the castration...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anemia-in-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Goat owners should be well-versed in the art of the FAMACHA check . We know that bright red mucous membranes of the eyes are a good sign while pale or white mucous membranes could indicate a heavy parasite load and anemia. But if your goat is anemic, outside...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-goat-mineral/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Does attempting to select the right minerals for your herd make your head spin? Do you know which three minerals are the primary keys to your herd’s health? How about the proper levels that should be included in a good mineral? Is there an easy way to...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/champion-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Welcome to the world of showing goats ! Have you ever dreamed of picking the perfect breeding pair that produces such a successful combination of genetics that you wind up with a doe that wins the title of Grand Champion at the National Show? It is likely tha...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hay-testing/  --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description If you’ve ever wondered about the importance of forage and hay testing to ensure your herd is receiving maximum nutrition, today’s episode will provide you with lots of valuable information. We are talking to Cassy Streeter, an expert in near-infrared reflectan...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-grasses/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this bonus episode with Dr. Woody Lane, a livestock nutritionist and forage specialist and consultant, who's the owner of Lane Livestock Services and the author of three books on forages, grazing, soils, and livestock nutrition, we are tackling some...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/good-pasture/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description It can be a seemingly insurmountable challenge to balance the grazing needs of your herd with the necessity to maintain pasture and forage growth. If only there was a formula to strike that perfect balance between allowing your goats to get the nutrition they ne...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/herd-shares/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Herd shares are often considered to be a sneaky way to circumvent state laws prohibiting the sale of raw milk . But did you know that herd shares themselves are not legal in all 50 states? In addition, there is far more nuance to the endeavor than simply sellin...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/listeriosis-in-goats/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Listeriosis can strike fear into the hearts of goats owners, not only because it needs prompt treatment to increase the odds of survival, and because it can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that it shares symptoms with several other serious illn...

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-stays/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Have you ever thought about hosting guests on your farm for additional income, but were too unsure about the logistics to take the first step? Today’s podcast will offer clarity and may even inspire you to finally venture into the world of agritourism. We are tal...

If you ever wondered about the benefits of milk testing , today’s episode contains an abundance of valuable information. Today we are talking to Jeremy Leather, a field technician at Dairy One, a milk testing lab in New York State. While Dairy One offers multiple services, including forage and soil testing, we are focusing on their excellent milk testing services and how milk testing can have a ma...

Have you ever wanted to try raw milk, lauded for its health benefits, but were concerned about the safety? Like all raw foods from lettuce to oysters, there is a risk of contamination, but there’s a lot we can do to be sure that all of our raw food, including milk, is as safe as possible. We are talking to Mark McAfee, the chairman of the Raw Milk Institute, which was founded in 2011 to help meet...

Every goat owner has heard that goats don't do well with anesthesia, so we are always understandably nervous when our goats need to be sedated. Dr. Kelly Chen, Veterinary Anesthesiology Resident at Cornell University, joins us in this episode to talk about why goats are so challenging when it comes to anesthesia. First, we discuss the difference between anesthesia and analgesia and then we ta...