Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Feeding Goats, Goat Fencing, Livestock Management

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about all the reasons to start with terminal livestock if you’re a beginner or just getting started raising farm animals.  I’ll explain the advantages to starting with meat animals rather than breeding stock, and how those animals will be your best teacher and set you up for success with your future breeding herds.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie     Relat...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about what’s happening in the beef market, and what that means for future meat prices.  I’m sharing advice from a local rancher on how to build a good relationship so that buying directly from a farmer or rancher works long-term.  Mostly, though, I want you to make a plan now to take at least some control over your food supply so you can weather whatever storms com...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about what to watch for once you’ve gotten your baby goats through that first critical week.  We’re talking about the most common problems we see in the first month after goat kids are born, what to watch for, and what to do.  I’m also sharing about a big loss we had this year, what we learned from it, and I’m reminding myself that it’s only a failure if you don’t...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about how to avoid overwhelm and make real progress on your journey to healthier food, self-sufficiency and homesteading.  We’ll talk about the power of focusing so that your progress is sustainable over the long term, creating real impact and lasting change in your life.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie     Mentions:   04 | Avoiding Homestead Comparison: ...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about the unique way we got started with our own livestock, and how you can do the same.  Spoiler:  We didn’t inherit anything!  We’ll talk about ways to get creative and start increasing your self-sufficiency no matter where you live or what resources you have.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie     Mentions:   10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thri...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about the buck effect, what it is, why it happens, and why we didn’t see it in our meat goat herd this year.  I’m walking you through my thought process evaluating why it didn’t happen, how it has affected our kidding season, and what that means for our goat herd.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie     Mentions:   Buck Effect Instagram Reel (ranch humor and l...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about off grid water and digging a little deeper into the options you have for a solar water system.  We’ve had our system going for nearly 5 years, and it’s pretty much maintenance free, which is really nice.  Water is so important in every aspect of our lives, and the last thing you need is to have water issues when you’re trying to do so many other things to get...

Hi friends!  We’re in the thick of kidding season, and today I’m sharing about a new kidding experience I had a couple days ago, assisting a doe with a posterior (breech) kid.  We’ve had lots of breech kids before, but never one that I couldn’t safely get the back legs repositioned, so this was a new one.  Goats never stop teaching me new things.  I’m also sharing some tips on how to be prepared f...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about getting ready for kidding.  We’ve already done the early preparations – ordering tags, making sure we have the needed supplies on hand, and now it’s time to get everything organized and in place so we’re ready when that first kid is born soon.  We’ll talk about the details – the little things that make caring for kids and keeping good records easier, and the...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about within-breed variation and how it affects the way you select your livestock.  This will help you avoid a common mistake when choosing your first animals – focusing on breed only.  Getting clear on your goals, deciding what traits are important to you, and asking questions to figure out if the livestock you’re looking at will fit your goals and management plan...

Hi friends!  Today we’re answering a listener question about butchering meat goats.  What is the best age and size to butcher, and how to feed them so the meat quality is amazing.  We’re going to talk about commercial weight and age standards or, rather, the lack of standards, and what I have found works really well to meet our goal of premium quality meat.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie...

Hi friends!  Last week we talked about building fence for goats, and today we’re talking about how to manage your goat herd so that they respect your fence.  Goats are notorious for challenging fences, usually by jumping or shimmying under, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  I’m going to share what we’ve learned about dealing with problem goats, and what you can do to prevent problems in the fir...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about building fence for goats.  Fence is one of the biggest investments in owning goats, and I’ve heard it many times that if your fence won’t hold water, it won’t hold goats!  That sure seems true sometimes, but today I’m going to share some strategies we’ve used to successfully fence our goats, keep them contained, and keep them safe from predators.  Let’s get t...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about how much meat you can expect when you butcher livestock.  We’ll go over averages for the common species, and I’ll also share how our last goats performed as far as meat yield, comparing Boer and Spanish breeds.  If you’re raising your own meat or hoping to in the future, this episode is packed with valuable information.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Milli...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about big picture management and goals for your farm, ranch or homestead.  It doesn’t matter if you have a few acres or a few hundred, it’s important to have a plan.  I’m going to walk you through our plan for livestock and land, talk about why we’ve made some of the decisions we’ve made and our plans for the future.  This is and will always be a work in progress,...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about preparing for kidding goats, specifically, what I have in my kidding bucket and what I like to have on hand in case of an emergency.  This episode will give you a great place to start getting your supplies together for kidding, as well as some ideas to put on your list to have around when things don’t go as planned.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie  ...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about meat, ground beef specifically, and what it really costs to buy a burger at the drive through.  We’ll talk about things you need to look for when purchasing ground beef and the options you have to feed your family one of the most nutritious foods on the planet – red meat, in the form of ground beef.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie     Mentions:   NEW...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about getting your tags ordered for kidding season.  We’ll talk about tagging laws, and we’ll walk through the step-by-step process I use to decide what tags to order and how many we need.  We have lots of goats to tag, but I’m also going to give you a simple, affordable, and legal way to tag if you only have a few goats.  Let get to it!   All the Best! Millie    ...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about freezer meat storage and how to make the best use of bulk meat you either raise or purchase.  I’m going to share three different strategies we’ve used to make sure we utilize everything in our freezer, eliminate waste, and take the stress out of dinner time.  No more staring in the fridge at 5:00 p.m. wondering what to cook, and no more freezer overwhelm! Let...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about trimming hooves on goats.  This is really a simple task most of the time, but it’s one of the hardest to start because of the fear of doing it wrong or hurting your goats.  Today I’m going to talk you through hoof trimming, factors that affect hoof growth, the tools you need, how to do it, and a couple pro tips that will make trimming easier and may even redu...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about homegrown food – meat and eggs specifically – and why they taste different than what you buy at the grocery store.  Some people have a hard time liking homegrown food, so we’ll talk about some tips and strategies to help you adjust to the taste of home grown.  If you’re getting ready to raise your own eggs and meat, this episode will help you avoid the ultima...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about early versus late banding of buck kids, things you should consider, the pros and cons of early banding, and the results of our experiment we did last year testing out early banding on a handful of kids.  They’re 11 months old now, so it’s time for an update!  Let’s dive in!   All the Best! Millie     Mentions:   Dry Creek Heritage Meats Gift Card for podcast...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about goat meat and other ruminant meat vs monogastric meat, the health benefits and the “why” behind it all.  I’m going to dive deep into ruminant digestion and show you why ruminants are magical!  Ruminant Nutrition is my specialty and I’m excited to share how the uniqueness of the ruminant digestive process positively impacts the meat they produce.  This is a go...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about the benefits of starting out your livestock raising journey with small ruminants like goats and sheep instead of starting with cows.  We’ll compare the investment and risks, and the reasons why getting started with goats might be a good decision even if your ultimate goal is to raise cattle.  There’s a lot of valuable insider tips in this episode, so let’s ge...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about entropian or inverted eyelids in goat kids and how to treat it.  We’ll go over what causes it to happen, how to recognize it quickly, and the options for treatment, both with a veterinarian or on your own at home.  This episode will teach you how to easily handle what can be a scary situation, so let’s dive in!   Mentions: Wound Clips and Forceps: https://www...