Get Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Self-Sufficiency, Sustainable Farm, Homesteading, Off-Grid, Livestock

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 come your way.  Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

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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 learn something.  Listen in and learn how to keep those goat kids healthy until they’re ready to wean.  Let’s get...

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:  The “Good, Better, Best” of Homesteading and Your Definition of Best

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47 | How to A...

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

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10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thrive

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47 | How to Adjust to the Flavo...

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

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Buck Effect Instagram Reel (ranch humor and lots of marking paint)

Relat...

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 your off-grid place up and running.  Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

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 for emergencies before they happen, which is vital.  Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

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 things that keep frustration away, which helps us all win in the long run.  Over the years, I’ve found this detailed preparation makes a huge difference in the ov...

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 will help you get to success faster when raising livestock.  Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

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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

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Fill Your Freezer with Premium Meat:

https://dry...

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 first place.  If your goats respect your fencing, you’ll have a much better goat-raising experience.  Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

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 to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

07 | Should My Goats Have Horns or...

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!

Millie

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Get your Goat Meat here:

https://drycreekhe...

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, so I expect I’ll be doing updates every so often as we learn more and apply that knowledge to our p...

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

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NEW Ground Beef Bundle:

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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

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NEW Ground Beef Bundle:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com/groundbeef

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

Mentions:

Get your 50th Episode Double G...

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’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie

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Dry Creek Heritage...

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 reduce the frequency of hoof trimming required for your goats.  Let’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie...

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 ultimate homestead disappointment -- not liking the food you raise.  Let’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie

M...

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

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Dry Creek Heritage Meats Gift Card for podcast listeners:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com/podcastspecial

Joi...

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 good one!  Let’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie

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Happy Birthday!  Double-Your-Gift-Card Special, 5 days only...

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 get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

Online goat meat sales open today, Feb...

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!

All the Best!

Millie

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Wound Clips and Forceps:

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/wound-c...

Hi friends!  A couple weeks ago, we talked about how to help goats thrive in winter, and right after that, a good portion of the United States started experiencing extreme cold temperatures for their typical climate.  So, today, I want to talk specifically about how to support your livestock during extreme cold when you and your animals are not accustomed or adapted to it.  Let’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

40 | How to Help Your Goats Thrive in Winter

https://p...

Hi friends!  It’s time for a chicken episode!  Today we’re talking about meat birds because it’s time to order if you’re going to raise chicks this year and you want to be able to get the exact birds you are looking for.  We’ll be talking about the different types, pros and cons of each, and by the time we’re done, you’ll be ready to decide what is going to work best for you whether it’s Cornish Cross, a hybrid, or a dual-purpose heritage breed.  Grab a pencil and notebook, and let’s get to it!

 ...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about how goats adapt to winter weather, things you can do to help them thrive in winter, and some things you shouldn’t do that seem helpful, but end up being problematic.  We’ll talk about winter coats and shelters, and how other animals compare in their ability to tolerate cold and snow.  In ranch-terms, we use the word “winter” to not only indicate the season but as a term to indicate how an animal performed through the winter.  You’ll hear phrases like “How did they winter?  Are the cattle wintering well?” and “That goat winter...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about the social needs of livestock and why they need to be raised with others, preferably of their own kind, to make sure they are happy, healthy and productive.  Listen in to find out why you don’t want to raise animals alone whether you’re raising them for food or breeding purposes.

All the Best!

Millie

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24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasin...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about breeding season and buck management.  I’ll share our management plan for bucks through the year, some mistakes we’ve made and tips to avoid making the same mistakes, as well as some simple things you can do that make a big difference when dealing with common buck problems.  With adequate space and good fencing, you can have a great buck experience.

All the Best!

Millie

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"The 12 Week Year" by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington: (affiliate link)

https...

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about replacement does and how and why our management system has changed over the past couple of years.  Should you breed your does to kid as yearlings or 2-year-olds or something in between?  It’s a question we hear a lot, and every breeder does it differently, so I’m going to walk you through the evolution of our breeding plan and what we’re doing now.  By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to plan your doe management with confidence.

All the Best!

Millie

...

Hi friends!  It’s been a while since I did an off-grid living episode, so today I’m going to give you the big picture of our off-grid move and then talk about what we miss the most after 2+ years living here and what we’re doing to remedy that.

All the Best!

Millie

Episode Mentions:

09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-Saving Tips for Meeting Animal Requirements, and How We Do It Off-Grid

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Hi friends!  In today’s episode we’ll be talking more about winter hay feeding, monitoring your feed and waste, and how to determine if you’re meeting the nutrient requirements for your goats.  I’ll go through the process I use to evaluate our hay feeding and how to make changes if things aren’t working the way you planned.  This one’s loaded with details, so grab a pencil, and let’s jump in!

All the Best!

Millie

Episode Mentions:

28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate...

Hi friends!  In today’s episode we’ll be talking about animal loss in livestock herds, how to prepare for it, how much death loss is likely to happen, and how to get your expectations in line with the realities of raising animals and the losses that come along with it.  It’s important to understand that success isn’t necessarily keeping them all alive, because that’s not possible, but you can have realistic expectations that help you define success in a better, more meaningful way.

All the Best!

Millie

Mention...

Hi friends!  In today’s episode I’ll be answering some questions that came in after last week’s dairy goat episode.  I’ll be focusing on the actual milking process including stand training your does, milking equipment, and milk handling the way it works for us.  We’re a little unconventional in our dairying practices, so listen in if you lean towards doing things your own way.

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

Instagram Reel – Milking: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cov7E3wAKf8/?igsh=MTd6bmFvaTgwc2JzbQ%3D%3D

Hi friends!  In today’s episode I’ll be sharing why we got started with dairy does, how we manage them in a very unconventional way, the challenges we had, why it works for us and our busy life, and how you can do it too.  If you’re thinking about getting dairy goats for your own milk consumption or to feed bottle babies, this episode is for you!

All the Best!

Millie

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Sage Ag Labs for testing: https://sageaglab.com

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Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about preparing your coop and chickens for winter.  We’ll talk about the changing nutritional needs of your birds as they molt and how to meet those needs, some options for easier water, requirements for their shelter and bedding, and the big question, heat lamps.  Should they be used or not?  I’ll also share my strategy to avoid a winter egg drought, and touch on some ways to store eggs for winter use.  Let’s dive in!

All the Best!

Millie

Join our...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about making livestock decisions on the ranch or homestead, how to evaluate your decision-making process, and how to use that information to make a better-informed decision the next time.  To help explain this, I’ll be sharing about a frustrating and slightly embarrassing problem we faced on the ranch recently.  There are lots of nuggets of knowledge in this episode, so grab your notebook and pen and let's dive in.

All the Best!

Millie

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Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about evaluating your goats to see if they’re healthy, need any hoof work, and if their body condition is right for the season they’re in.  I’ll talk you through determining Body Condition Score, why it’s important, and how to use it to improve the overall health and productivity of your goat herd.

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

Body Condition Scores in Goats by Langston University

https://www.in.gov/boah/files/Goats_BCS...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about winter feeding, how to calculate how much hay you need, the best way to store it and a strategy that will help you thrive even when hay prices are volatile or the weather gets extreme.  This information will apply to all species not just goats.  I’ll also be sharing some exciting news and some fun things coming up, so grab a notebook and pencil and let’s jump in!

All the Best!

Millie

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SHOW NOTES:

Hi friends!  Last week we talked about does, age of breeding, and I briefly mentioned keeping replacement does out of the top 1/3 of the doe kids, but what I didn’t tell you, is how to determine which doe kids make up the top third or how to rank the does.  So today, we’re going to break this down a little more as well as talk about goat breeding plans and strategies.

All the Best!

Millie

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