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

Hi, friend!   Today we’ll be talking about mineral for goats, why they need it, what works best, how to keep from wasting expensive mineral and the short- and long-term benefits.  I’ll tell you about the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, and what we’re doing now that is working really well for the goats and for us.   All the Best! Millie   Mentions:   Replamin Gel Plus: (affiliate li...

Hi, friend!   Today I’ll be reporting in on the 2024 kidding season for our commercial meat goat herd.  I’ve been crunching the numbers and I’m going to share them with you, along with how they’re calculated and why we do it the way we do.  I’m also giving quite a bit of detail on our management decisions, production goals, and lots of explanations on terminology related to livestock.   All the Be...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking about the most important lesson we learned going off grid, and how you can learn from our experiences and mistakes to make your own off-grid journey much smoother.  We’ll talk about changing your expectations about power, thinking differently about electricity to find alternatives, and modifying the way you live to make your power system serve you in the best way...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking about the annual production cycle we follow with our goats, timing of breeding and kidding, why we do it that way, and lots of other things we’ve tried.  I’ll also share other options that are popular and successful in other areas.  This episode will be a high-level walk through of our production calendar, and the big picture view of our production system.   All...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking about electric netting for goats, different types and their uses, when it works, when it doesn’t, and how to use it effectively.  I’ll be giving tips for success and things to be aware of when using electric netting with goats.  This episode is packed full of tips I’ve learned from 6 years of experience (and some failures) with electric netting.     All the Best!...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking about raising kids with livestock, the skills and life lessons they’ll learn, and how it will benefit them for the rest of their life.  I’ll be sharing tips on age-appropriate work, motivating kids to do their chores, teaching them to be self-motivated, and how to strengthen your relationship with your kids while working alongside them.   All the Best! Millie   C...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking all about tagging goats for identification, what the USDA rules are on tags and how we do it here at Dry Creek Livestock.  I’m sharing all the information you’ll need to make a decision on tagging that is right for you and your situation.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie   Mentions:   How to obtain a Premise ID:  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-disease/...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking all about bottle goats!  Pros and cons of bottle kids compared to dam-raised kids, and I’ll be sharing 5 tips to help you successfully raise your bottle goats: Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie   Mention: Pritchard Teat: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/pritchard-teat?criteria=Pritchard+Teat&species_id=0&cat_id=0   Connect with me:   Email: drycre...

Hi, friend!   Today we are talking about the most important nutrient for all livestock… WATER!  It seems simple enough, but keeping adequate water available to your animals through all the seasons can be quite challenging.  I’ll be sharing some tips to manage water efficiently as well as explain how we do it off-grid!   All the Best! Millie   Connect with me:   Email: drycreekgoats@gmail.com   See...

Hi, friend!   Today we’re taking a hard look at our livestock and evaluating to see if we should keep going or change directions with each herd or animal.  I give you six areas to evaluate and then walk through the process with our show goat herd.  Do we keep the show goats or sell them?  You’ll leave with a plan to assess each of your livestock animals and decide their future on your farm or home...

Hi, friend!   Today we’re going to talk about disbudding goats – should your goat herd have horns or not?  We’ll talk about the purpose of horns, risks of removing them, challenges with leaving them on, building fence depending on what you choose, can you mix horned and disbudded goats, and all the things you need to know to make the best decision for your herd   All the Best! Millie   Connect wit...

*** Top 3% Global Podcast! ***   Hi, friend!   Today we’re going to talk about what animal I think is the best for beginner homesteaders to start with.  We’ll be talking about evaluating your resources, risk management, experience and safety, and how raising this animal will help you be better prepared to add in your next ones.  We’ll talk about all the things you’ll learn raising CHICKENS, and ho...

Hi, friend!   I often hear aspiring homesteaders ask “How do you pay for all of this?  It’s so expensive!  I could never afford to do that.”   There’s some truth in those statements, raising livestock CAN be expensive, but if you get creative and stick with your plan, you can make some adjustments in what you’re already doing that will make a BIG financial difference.   Today I’m sharing a strateg...

Hi, friend!   Hello!  Today we’re going to talk about homestead comparison and my view of “good, better, best” when evaluating your progress.  I’ll give you some examples and tips to help you feel good about your own homestead projects, and avoid the comparison trap.  Let’s get to it!   All the Best! Millie   Connect with me:   Email: drycreekgoats@gmail.com   See what’s happening on the ranch: ww...

Hi, friend!   Ready for goats?  In this episode we are going to cover four steps to help you prepare and shop for your first goats.  You’ll learn what needs to be ready at your farm or homestead, the importance of knowing what you want, how to locate a reputable breeder, and what questions to ask to make sure your first goat experience is a good one!  I’ve also included some tips on what to avoid...

Hey, Friend!   In today’s episode, we talk about how to avoid homestead livestock overwhelm using my 4 step process to successfully add the right animals to your homestead.  I also give some some practical tips on choosing the right type of livestock to start with.  Whether you’re interested in goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep, pigs, or cattle, you’ll leave this episode with a plan in hand, knowing...

Hey, friend!   In this first episode, you’ll get to know me a little better!  We’ll talk about my journey from ranch kid to homesteader, raising our own livestock for food, why I don’t rely on the broken food system, and the purpose behind this podcast and how it came into existence.   I hope this encourages or helps you!   Millie   Connect with me:   Email: drycreekgoats@gmail.com   See what’s ha...

Hey there! If you're serious about raising goats and you want management systems that actually hold up in real life — you're in the right place. I'm Millie Bradshaw, Animal Scientist and rancher. I grew up on a cattle ranch and learned to love early mornings, hard work, horses, and all the livestock. Three decades of livestock experience and a Master's Degree in Animal Science later, I now run a f...