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

Yesterday I was watering the goats in town, put fresh water in the trough, one of the does took a drink, and right after she drank, she did the flehmen response. That funny lip curl. No bucks around. Middle of July. Not breeding season. And I realized I didn't actually know what was going on. I thought I did. So, I looked it up. Today I want to tell you what the flehmen response actually is, because it turns out it's a lot more interesting than most of us think. Let's get to it.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

A couple of weeks ago in Episode 117 I talked about how our market evolved away from the sale barn. Today I want to talk about why the auction can be a great place for meat goat producers to start selling their goats, and for a lot of producers it's the right long-term market. Today I want to talk about how to use the sale barn well, the research, the timing, the relationship building, what to do when you pull in, and what I learned over several years selling this way. Let's get to it. Episode Mentions: 117 | Selling Meat Goats: From Sale Barn Auctions to a Waitlist 11 | Should I Tag My Goats? What You Need to Know About Government Requirements and How to Use Tagging to Benefit Your Herd 50 | Get Ready for Kidding: Order Your Tags in 4 Easy Steps Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're talking about heat management in goats, the basics that actually matter, what I learned during one brutal kidding season, some coat science that surprised me, and a practical tool I wish I'd had sooner. I’m also going to tell you about the time I dunked a kid in a water trough. Let's get to it.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today I want to tell you how our goat market evolved from sale barn auctions to direct-to-consumer meat sales to something I stumbled into sort of by accident that turned out to be a much better fit for the goats we've been raising. There's a mental block I had to work through in there too, and I think a lot of producers run into the same one. Let's get to it.   Mentions: Idaho Goat Grazers (Zak) VS Goat Grazing (Virgil) Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Back in Episode 46, I talked about early versus late banding of buck kids. We went through the full debate, the urinary calculi argument, the research, all of it, and I reported on a small test group we'd banded at birth. I said I'd follow up when we did it at scale. We've now done it at scale, and this is that follow-up. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early?   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

This is a question I get asked a lot, and honestly, one I've wondered about myself for a long time. Freemartinism is something every cattle producer knows about, a female born twin to a male that ends up sterile. But you almost never hear about it in goats. Today I want to get to the bottom of why that is, because the answer isn't that goats are immune to it. It comes down to anatomy, and it's actually pretty interesting once you understand what's happening. Let's get to it.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Our NoFence collars showed up on Friday, shipped all the way from Norway, and they've been sitting in boxes since they got here. Today I want to talk about why we finally pulled the trigger on virtual fence after years of waiting, what it opens up for us, including over two hundred acres of brush ground we've barely been able to touch with goats, and how it fits alongside the electric netting we've relied on for years. This isn't a replacement story. It's the next piece of the system. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 109 | Electric Netting in Freeze Country: The Afternoon Teardown Fix 13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

We are one week into kidding season. Forty does have kidded, seventy-eight kids on the ground, two sets of quads, four sets of triplets, and we have not assisted on a single birth. Not one. Today I want to tell you about day two, when four does kidded in a rainstorm, and the harder question that was sitting underneath all of it: how do you know where the line is between trusting your animals to do it themselves or intervening? Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 110 | Kidding Management: How Our Kidding System Evolved, PART 1 of 3 111 | Kidding Management: Selection Pressure and Behavior Reshaping, PART 2 of 3 112 | Kidding Management: Building the Right System for Your Operation, Part 3 of 3 100 | Management Flexibility: Why Helping Too Much Hurts Your Livestock   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

We've spent the last two weeks on how our kidding system evolved and what it took to reshape the herd through selection pressure. Today is Part 3, and this one is for you. We're going to walk through the factors that actually determine your kidding system, genetics, weather, business model, predator protection, and labor, so you can stop second-guessing your setup and start making decisions that fit your operation. There's no single right answer here, and that's the whole point. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions:   110 | Kidding Management: How Our Kidding System Evolved, PART 1 of 3 111 | Kidding Management: Selection Pressure and Behavior Reshaping, PART 2 of 3 105 | Two Reasons Why People Quit Goats: Fence and Genetics 13 | Electric Netting Fence for Goats   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Last week we started this series with the story of how our kidding system evolved — from show goats and January barn kidding through commercial Boers, and then the Spanish goats arriving and refusing to work in the system we'd been running for years. Today is Part 2, and this is where we get into what that shift actually took. How do you move a herd that's been bred for intensive management toward something completely different? What does culling look like when you're selecting for a new system? And how long before you actually see the results? Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 110 | Kidding Management: How Our Kidding System Evolved, Part 1 of 3   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're starting a three-part series on kidding management, how a system actually works, why it matters which genetics you're running, and how to build an approach that fits your operation. Part 1 is the story of how our system evolved from show goats and January barn kidding in twenty-below weather, through commercial Boers, and then the moment the Spanish goats arrived and showed me something I hadn't seen coming. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 105 | Two Reasons Why People Quit Goats: Fence and Genetics   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

This year we went out on grass almost six weeks earlier than we ever have, and right after we did, it started freezing hard again. Today I want to talk about what that actually looks like operationally, specifically what happens to electric netting stakes in a hard-freeze climate, why that matters, and what we changed to make it work. I'll also tell you what the does look like on pre-kidding green forage, which is something we've not had access to in the past with electric netting. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Two years ago, I hit publish on the very first episode of this podcast, not really knowing if anyone was going to listen or if I'd make it past ten episodes. Today we're marking that — 50,000 downloads in 115 countries, and I still have days where that doesn't feel real. In this episode I'm going to talk about what these two years have actually looked like, what shifted and what I learned, a concept I think explains a lot about how I got here and how I know when it's time to change course, and where this podcast is headed. Let's get to it.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're talking about the financial comparison between goats and cattle, done in a way that's actually fair. Most of the comparisons I've seen don't account for feed consumption, and when you leave that out, the math just doesn't work. I'm going to walk you through the framework I put together using real numbers from our operation and this last selling season, and I'll show you how to drop your own numbers in and run it for yourself. Let's get to it.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're getting into the physical setup for watering goats, what you put water in, how deep, how many, and the specific problems that can kill kids and trap horned goats. I covered the big picture in Episode 9, water as the most important nutrient, monitoring intake, why goats are picky about water quality, and how we haul water for rotational grazing. This episode goes deeper into the actual hardware, the configurations we use, and some mistakes that were expensive enough to remember. 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   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we’re talking about why people quit goats – and I mean the real reasons, not just “it was too hard.” There are two things that send people to the exit almost every single time, and both of them are preventable. We’re going to talk about fence, we’re going to talk about genetics, and we’re going to talk about what it actually looks like to build a system you can stay in for the long haul.   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're wrapping up the four-episode series on goat health supplies, and we're finishing with medications — what's on the shelf, what's in the fridge, and the single best storage hack I've come across that costs almost nothing. I'll walk through the full list: what I actually reach for, what I keep on hand but rarely use anymore, and some things that are worth understanding before you need them — the Corid and goat polio connection, early intervention for urinary calculi, and the shift in our vaccine protocol. We'll close out the series with the thread that's run through all four episodes. Let's get to it. Episode Mentions: 101 | The Most Important Tools in Your Goat Medical Kit - PART 1 102 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2A 103 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2B 46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids/ Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early? 82 | Internal Parasites in Goats: Monitoring, Prevention, and Treatment for Barber Pole and Other Worms   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're back in the health supply boxes for part 2B of this series: Eye care, disbudding, first aid, wound care and injury prevention, a few rarely used kidding supplies, and the storage systems that hold it all together. I've got a couple of stories in here too, a prairie dog hole, a stick coming out of a goat's chest, and a dog that made a decision it quickly regretted. Let's get to it!   Episode Mentions: 43 | How to Treat Entropian or Inverted Eyelids in Baby Goats 07 | Should My Goats Have Horns or Not? Pros and Cons of Disbudding Goats   Episodes in this Series: 101 | The Most Important Tools in Your Goat Medical Kit - PART 1 102 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2A 103 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2B 104 | The Medication Side of My Goat Health Kit – Part 3   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're opening up the goat health boxes, the ones I actually reach into on a regular basis. Last week we talked about the philosophy behind low-intervention management and the must-have supplies. This week we're getting into the working kit, what eight years of goat management looks like accumulated in boxes, and what actually sees regular use now versus what I used back in the show goat years. We'll cover weighing equipment, marking tools, tagging and records, hoof care, blood draw supplies, kidding tools, and a few things I keep in a five-gallon bucket right by the barn door. Let's get into it.   Episode Mentions: 11 | Should I tag my goats?  What You Need to Know About Government Requirements and How to Use Tagging to Benefit Your Herd 52 | What’s in My Kidding Bucket and the Supplies You Should Have On Hand When Your Goats Kid   Episodes in this Series: 101 | The Most Important Tools in Your Goat Medical Kit - PART 1 102 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2A 103 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2B 104 | The Medication Side of My Goat Health Kit – Part 3   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/join   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we're starting a three-part series on your goat medical kit, what actually needs to be in it, and why the most important item isn't something you can order from a supply catalog. In this first episode we're covering the foundation that makes everything else work: observation, your vet relationship, and then the supplies for diagnostics and supportive care. We'll also get into basic treatment supplies and what to do when things get serious. Let's get to it.   Episode Mentions: 102 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2A 103 | What's Actually in My Goat Health Boxes — Part 2B 104 | The Medication Side of My Goat Health Kit – Part 3   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/join   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

One storm after another, and we're managing through it. Today I'm sharing what we did last week when our night trap pens had no dry ground left anywhere for the goats to lie down — what we did, the thinking behind every decision, and just as importantly, what we didn't do. Plus: why over-intervening in tough weather conditions can actually work against your animals' long-term resilience.   Mention: 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Join the insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/join   Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

The goat industry doesn’t look like the beef industry — and that difference may be an advantage. For years, many producers have viewed the lack of centralization and formal structure in the goat industry as a weakness. But recent history has shown that highly efficient systems can also be fragile. In this episode, we look at what decentralization actually means and why flexibility may be more valuable than uniformity. We’ll talk about how centralized beef systems function, what 2020 exposed, the realities of direct marketing beef versus goats, and why goat meat requires intentional market alignment. We also discuss grass-finished misconceptions, genetic alignment, and how predictable seasonal demand can be used strategically — whether you sell direct or at the sale barn. The goal isn’t to criticize one system or elevate another. It’s to think clearly about structure, resilience, and producer choice. If you’ve ever wondered whether the goat industry is behind — or simply operating differently — this episode will give you a steadier perspective. In This Episode, I Cover: What centralization actually means in livestock production How efficiency and fragility can exist in the same system Why beef is broadly marketable — and goat requires targeted marketing Grass-finished realities and genetic alignment Seasonal goat market rhythms and sale barn timing Different ways producers can market animals Key Takeaways: Flexibility and consolidation are different strengths Goat markets are specific but predictable Grass-finishing requires management, not just ideology Genetics must match the production system Producers have meaningful choices in how they build their operation Related Episodes: 21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset 22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat 66 | What’s Happening in the Beef Market, What It Means for Consumers, and What You Can Do About It Now All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: [email protected] See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Breeding decisions, feed calculations, replacement standards, and herd focus all shape profitability but rarely in dramatic ways. Most goat herds don’t fall apart overnight. They slowly lose momentum because of small management decisions that compound over time. In this episode, I walk through five mistakes that can quietly erode profitability in a goat herd. From breeding does too early to failing to track does exposed to breeding, feeding without running the math, and keeping goats out of sentiment, we break down the practical decisions that either strengthen or weaken your system. You’ll hear how delayed breeding improved longevity in our forage-based herd, why exposed-doe metrics give a more honest fertility picture, how simple feed calculations can prevent waste and overconditioning, and how tightening replacement standards shapes long-term herd direction. I also share the hard decision we made to focus fully on commercial meat goats when our goals became clearer. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s intentional management. If you’ve been working hard but feel like your herd isn’t progressing the way it should, this episode will help you step back, evaluate your system, and tighten the areas that matter most. In This Episode, I Cover: Why breeding does at the wrong stage of development increases replacement pressure How delayed breeding improved longevity and reduced kidding problems in our herd Why tracking “does exposed to breeding” gives a more accurate fertility picture The importance of measuring singles, twins, triplets, and assistance rates How to calculate feed intake using body weight and dry matter percentages Why protein is the most expensive nutrient you feed How overconditioning affects breed-up The long-term cost of keeping goats for emotional reasons Why tightening replacement standards improves herd direction How unclear production goals create inconsistent selection decisions Key Takeaways: Longevity is profit Fertility must be measured honestly to improve Feed efficiency requires both math and observation Replacement standards should tighten over time Sentiment has a cost — acknowledge it Clear production goals drive consistent herd improvement Small management decisions compound over years Related Episodes: 22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2 27 | Which Goats Should I Keep for Breeding? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season 29 | Are Your Goats Too Fat or Too Thin? How to Body Condition Score and Adjust Your Feeding Strategy for Healthier Goats 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: [email protected] See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Efficient chores aren’t about moving faster — they’re about deciding the order once so you don’t have to rethink it every morning. When chores feel chaotic or take longer than they should, it’s usually not because there’s too much to do. It’s because there isn’t a clear system in place. In this episode, I walk you step-by-step through my winter morning livestock chores — not just what I do, but why I do it in that order. From removing distractions first, to batching tasks, to building physical reminders into the environment, I explain the simple principles that keep our barn running smoothly — even during mud season. You’ll hear how I structure chores to reduce wasted motion, prevent frustration, train livestock guardian dogs during daily routines, and build systems that protect future me from unnecessary work. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s consistency and clarity. If you’ve ever felt scattered during chores or like you’re making three trips back to the barn for one forgotten thing, this episode will help you step back, think through your own order of operations, and build a routine that works with your life — not against it. In This Episode, I Cover: Why chaotic chores are usually a systems problem, not a workload problem What “order of operations” looks like in real-life livestock management How removing distractions first saves time and reduces frustration Why batching tasks reduces wasted motion How to use physical reminders in your environment so you don’t rely on memory Training livestock guardian dogs during daily chores instead of adding extra time Using daily chores as an opportunity for livestock observation How efficient systems protect your time during busy seasons Why each family member having their own routine can improve consistency How to adjust your routine when seasons and chore demands change Key Takeaways: Efficient chores are built on order, not speed Clear routines reduce mental load and decision fatigue Batching similar tasks saves time and motion Building reminders into your environment prevents forgotten steps Regular observation during chores helps catch problems early Systems protect your time when workload increases Related Episodes: 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for Adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully 03 | Ready for Goats! 4 Steps to Help You Confidently Shop for and Purchase Your First Goats 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: [email protected] See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Raising goats successfully isn’t about having more animals or fewer animals — it’s about having management that matches your goal. Too many people jump into goats with good intentions, only to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and eventually sell out because their goats, systems, and goals were never aligned. In this episode, I break down a pattern I see over and over: people either start with too many goats before they’ve learned how goats behave as a herd, or they start with just a couple of goats that function more like pets and never teach real herd management. Both extremes create problems — just in different ways. We talk honestly about why goats magnify mistakes, how scale multiplies management challenges, and why learning at the right herd size matters. I also share how and why we intentionally scaled our own herd back last year to protect animal health, forage, and infrastructure — not as a failure, but as good management under real-world constraints. We’ll dig into the difference between pet goats and commercial goats, including a candid discussion about bottle babies, learned behavior, and why management sometimes has to change to keep animals safe — even when that management isn’t ideal. Throughout the episode, everything comes back to one central truth: management depends on your goal. If goats have ever felt harder than you expected, this episode will help you step back, clarify what you’re actually trying to build, and make decisions that lead to healthier goats and a more sustainable operation. In This Episode, I Cover: Why people often quit goats within the first year or two How scale magnifies mistakes in fencing, grazing, nutrition, and parasite management Why starting with just two or three goats teaches pet management, not herd management The risks of scaling too fast before understanding goat behavior and systems Our experience selling goats to let infrastructure and management catch up The difference between pet goats and commercial goats — and why neither is “wrong” How bottle baby behavior affects herd flow, boundaries, and daily management Why goat management should work with goat nature, not against it What “enough goats to be a herd, but not a crisis” actually looks like Practical starting numbers for building a commercial meat goat herd based on experience Key Takeaways: Goat management must match your end goal to be sustainable Too few goats can teach the wrong lessons for commercial herd management Too many goats magnify mistakes and accelerate burnout Bottle babies are not bad goats, but they require different management considerations Healthy goat systems guide behavior while protecting animal welfare Clear goals lead to calmer goats and better long-term decisions Related Episodes: 71 | Livestock Management Decisions and Why We Are Selling Part of Our Goat Herd 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep 24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasing a Better Option? 03 | Ready for Goats! 4 Steps to Help You Confidently Shop for and Purchase Your First Goats All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: [email protected] See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Self-sufficiency looks different for every family, yet many people feel stuck trying to follow generic food storage lists that don’t reflect how they actually eat or live. Over time, I’ve learned that the most effective food and household storage plans aren’t built from someone else’s checklist — they’re built by paying attention to what your family already uses. In this episode, I share a simple, practical self-sufficiency strategy for building food, household, and personal care storage that actually fits your life. Instead of fear-based prepping or rigid rules, this approach starts by tracking what your family uses over the course of a month and letting that information guide your storage decisions. I explain why this method works for both planners and freestyle cooks, how it naturally adapts as seasons and family needs change, and why self-sufficiency doesn’t require extremes or isolation. This is about stewardship, resilience, and reducing dependence on fragile systems — without overwhelm. You’ll also hear why food storage has been most valuable for our family during job changes and unexpected financial or medical seasons, not hypothetical emergencies. This system supports healthier eating, fewer last-minute grocery runs, and the quiet security of having what you need already on hand. If you want a realistic, adaptable way to build self-sufficiency through food and household storage without panic buying or complicated systems this episode will give you a clear, manageable place to start. In This Episode, I Cover: Why generic food storage lists often fail real families working toward self-sufficiency The difference between fear-based prepping and practical self-sufficiency through stewardship A simple month-long method to track what your family actually uses for food storage planning How to track food, cleaning supplies, and personal care items to build household self-sufficiency Turning real-life consumption data into a custom family food storage plan Why seasonal food audits are key to long-term self-sufficiency and preparedness How this food storage system works for both menu planners and freestyle cooks Saving money through bulk buying, shopping sales, and intentional household planning How food storage supports healthier home cooking and reduces reliance on takeout Using pantry, freezer, and food storage inventory to confidently plan bulk meat purchases Key Takeaways: Self-sufficiency starts with understanding what your family already uses Effective food storage plans should reflect real habits, not generic preparedness lists Tracking household usage for one month provides clarity without overwhelm Food storage systems should adapt as seasons, schedules, and family needs change Practical self-sufficiency creates resilience, financial stability, and peace of mind Related Episodes: 25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis 49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm 64 | Healthy Food, Self-Sufficiency, and Homesteading: How to Make Lasting Changes and Ditch the Overwhelm All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider Join the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community Email me: [email protected] See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Fast-growing goats sound like a good problem, and they are, until you start running the feed numbers. In this episode, I’m walking you through a real-time management decision we’re making on our ranch. Mild winter weather pushed our weaned kids 15–20 pounds ahead of schedule, and that growth changed our hay needs by 30–44%. I’ll show you how I ran the numbers, why buying more hay doesn’t pencil out, and how we decided when it made sense to sell early instead of sticking to the original plan. If you’re raising goats and trying to balance performance, feed inventory, and cash flow, this episode will help you think through those trade-offs with clarity instead of guesswork.  Let’s get to it!   Episode Mentions: 28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy to Save Money   Related Episodes: 35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation: Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste 78 | Winter Grazing: Low Cost, Regenerative Strategies for Goats and Other Livestock 71 | Livestock Management Decisions and Why We Are Selling Part of Our Goat Herd   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Winter chores don’t have to take all day, but they do require good systems. In today’s episode, I’m sharing what a typical winter day on our ranch looks like, how we divide chores, manage water in freezing temperatures, and keep winter from turning into a constant crisis mode. If winter feels overwhelming, this episode will help you think through a simpler approach.   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   Related Episodes: 28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money 35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation: Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste 40 | How to Help Your Goats Thrive in Winter 42 | Surviving Extreme Cold with Livestock When Your Animals Aren’t Adapted to Freezing Temperatures   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Breeding season is underway here at Dry Creek, and this year our breeding decisions look a little different than they have in the past. Today, I’m walking you through why we made those changes, not just what we’re doing, but how we’re thinking through the genetics, mothering ability, and long-term herd direction. If you’re raising goats, planning to, or just trying to make better livestock decisions without boxing yourself into a corner, this episode is for you.   Related Episodes: 22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2 27 | Which Goats Should I Keep to Breed? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season 37 | Replacement Doe Management: Later Selection to Choose the Best Does for Your Herd 76 | How to Choose Future Breeding Bucks for Your Goat Herd   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what real-life planning looks like on a working ranch, mud, weather swings, breeding decisions, and all. We’re talking about seasonal rhythms, why rigid schedules don’t work for us, and how planning around your actual life can bring more steadiness and less frustration.   Related Episodes: 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for Adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress 53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Before you get goats, or if you already have them and things feel harder than you expected, this episode is for you.  Today I’m sharing five things I really wish I had understood before I got goats. These are lessons that would have saved me time, money, frustration, and a few hard-earned mistakes.  Let’s talk about what goats are actually like, not the myths, and how to set yourself up for success from the start.   Mentions: 17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral?  How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy 10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thrive   Related Episodes: 03 | Ready for Goats! 4 Steps to Help You Confidently Shop for and Purchase Your First Goats 07 | Should My Goats Have Horns or Not? Pros and Cons of Disbudding Goats 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Breeding season success doesn’t start the day the buck goes in, it starts weeks earlier. In today’s episode, I’m walking through how we prepare our goat herd for breeding season, including our feeding strategy after weaning, what flushing actually is and when it works, why mineral intake matters more than most people think, and how winter water access quietly determines whether any of it works at all.   Related Episodes: 14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Forage Nutrition 17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral?  How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy 09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-Saving Tips for Meeting Animal Requirements, and How We Do It Off-Grid 24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasing a Better Option? 26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed?  How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready to Have Their First Kids   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Regenerative agriculture isn’t a checklist or a finish line. It’s a decision-making process you repeat over and over as you learn what your land can actually do. In this episode, I’m walking you through the framework we use on our high-desert ranch to turn regenerative principles into real-world management decisions with goats and cattle. We’ll talk about learning without copy-pasting, asking “how can this work here?” instead of “this will never work,” and how we break big, overwhelming goals, like reducing winter hay feeding and extending the grazing season, into practical tests we can evaluate and adjust.   Mentions: Gabe Brown — Dirt to Soil   Related Episodes: 84 | The Messy Middle of Regenerative Ranching: Key Insights from “A Bold Return to Giving a Damn” by Will Harris 78 | Winter Grazing: Low Cost, Regenerative Strategies for Goats and Other Livestock 53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them 21 | Seeking Sustainability?  How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Coccidiosis is one of the most common and most misunderstood health issues in goats. Some herds barely deal with it. Others lose kids every season. Today, I’m breaking down what coccidia actually is, how it functions, which strains are the most dangerous, how genetics and stress play into it, and the management shifts that finally broke our yearly cycle of coccidiosis. If you’ve ever dealt with diarrhea, weak kids, or unexplained losses, this episode will give you clarity.   Episode Mentions: 86 | Can Goats and Chickens Live Together? What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Do It Right   Related Episodes: 82 | Internal Parasites in Goats: Monitoring, Prevention, and Treatment for Barber Pole and Other Worms   68 | New to Raising Livestock?  Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep   08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  A lot of folks claim you have to keep goats and chickens separate. Others run them together year-round with no issues. So, which is actually right? Today we’re breaking down the real risks, the benefits, the newest research on coccidia, and the simple guidelines that make mixed housing work safely. And at the end, I’ll share a teaser for next week’s episode, where we’re talking all about coccidia—what it is, when it becomes deadly, and the management shifts that finally broke our yearly coccidiosis cycle.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals   20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor   21 | Seeking Sustainability?  How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset   31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Today we’re talking about the mindset that actually makes farming and homesteading sustainable. Not perfection and definitely not a life where everything is easy. We’re digging into gratitude, grit, and learning to find the good even in the messy parts of livestock and off-grid living. Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully   15 | The Most Important Lesson We Learned Going Off-Grid, and How You Can Do the Same Thing to Simplify Your Off-Grid Plan   30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress   68 | New to Raising Livestock?  Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today I want to talk about the transition from conventional agriculture and livestock production to a regenerative or restorative system.  I spent two days in the truck, listening to Will Harris’ book, A Bold Return to Giving a Damn, and it gave me some great insights into the decades-long journey of White Oak Pastures, as well as a look into the future of our ranch.  If you’re considering a production system that is closer to nature’s design or if you’re in the messy middle like we are, this episode will help you see the possibilities, problems, and the beautiful potential.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them   45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat   21 | Seeking Sustainability?  How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset   08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about goat fence, specifically, a night trap which is one part of a big fence project we’re working on right now.  A night trap is a pen that is used to securely contain goats while protecting them from predators.  We’ve built a few of these over the years, and I’m going to give you the overview of how to do it with very little tools like we did in the beginning, to now, using some helpful equipment, but not required.  Having a secure place to contain your goats will ease your mind and make raising goats so much easier.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   55 | Fencing for Goats: Two Things You Must Have to Keep Your Goats Contained and Safe   56 | True or False? Goats are Escape Artists (Hint/ The Answer Is in Your Management Strategy)   13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about internal parasites, or worms, different species, the problems they cause, and how you can help your goats resist parasites, how to monitor your herd, and how to treat them when you need to.  Internal parasites are one of the biggest problems that goat owners face, and being armed with some strategies to monitor, support, and treat your goats is the best defense against these little invaders.  Let’s get to it!   Mentions:   https://kinderground.org   https://lakelandfarmandranch.com/usa/   Related Episodes:   08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell   17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral?  How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy   22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1   23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hey there, thanks for listening today. I'm so glad you're here. If this episode helped you or encouraged you in some way, share the link with your homesteading friends and if you really want to help me out, click on over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and a review. You can connect with me on Instagram or email, linked in the show notes and meet me back here soon for more Get Goat Wise.   [MUSIC FADES OUT]   SHOW NOTES:   Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about breed registries, making decisions based on performance data, livestock industry problems created by breeding for maximum production, and what you need to know before you decide if you should raise registered or unregistered goats.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1   23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2   27 | Which Goats Should I Keep to Breed? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season   76 | How to Choose Future Breeding Bucks for Your Goat Herd   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about weaning goat kids, different methods for weaning, timing to prevent unintentional breeding by buck kids, if you should wean wether and doe kids at all, and how to decide what weaning strategy will work best for your goat herd and management system.  Let’s get to it!   Mentions:   46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early?   Related Episodes:   14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Forage Nutrition   20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor   26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about youth livestock programs, gaining wisdom by learning from experience, and the importance of teaching kids about livestock and where their food comes from.  Whether kids are involved in a formal program or have their own projects on the homestead, farm, in the back yard, or even a rented space at a nearby farm, raising livestock can be a life-changing experience for kids.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals   18 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 1   19 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 2   70 | How Livestock, Chores, and Good Mentors Create Resilient, Confident Kids Who Are Prepared for the Challenges Life Brings   75 | How Livestock Shaped My Life and Why I’m Here to Help You   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about winter grazing and the different ways you can feed your livestock in a sustainable, regenerative way while meeting their needs and promoting nutrient cycling and land improvement.  We’ll define terms like swath grazing, bale grazing, cover crop and residue grazing and discuss how each of them could benefit your management system.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money   35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation:  Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste   42 | Surviving Extreme Cold with Livestock When Your Animals Aren’t Adapted to Freezing Temperatures   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about preparing for winter on the ranch and homestead, and what we do to make sure the animals and people are taken care of through the cold winter months.  We’ll talk about livestock feed and water, general fall clean up that makes winter work easier, and a quick overview of what we prepare for our family that supports us through the winter as well as the rest of the year.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money   31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter   36 | What We Miss the Most While Building Our Off-Grid Life   49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about selecting replacement bucks, the criteria we use to qualify bucks as breeding stock, and we’ll walk through the sorting process and how we handled it this year.  I’ll also be sharing some interesting things we observed while sorting and how it’s going to affect future decisions and data collection.  Let’s get to it!   Mentions:   46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early?     Related Episodes:   24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasing a Better Option?   38 | Buck Management That Will Keep You, Your Goats, and Your Neighbors Happy   62 | The Buck Effect: What Is It, What Causes It, and How It Affects Goat Herd Management   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today’s episode is a little different.  I’ve been deep in thought as I’m sure many of you have been also, reflecting on all that has happened recently.  I want to share some of what I’ve been thinking about, particularly as it relates to why I care so much about raising livestock, healthy food, and self-sufficiency, as well as what’s coming up for our ranch, the meat business, and this podcast.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   01 | The Story Behind "Get Goat Wise" and How I Went from Ranch Kid to Homesteader   25 | Concerned About the Food Supply?  Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis   49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  It’s time for a chicken episode! Today we’re talking about what to do with all those roosters you ended up with after buying straight run chicks this year – because that was all you could find, right?  We’ll talk about options to deal with this year’s roosters as well as long-term strategies for your flock, including rooster management and setting goals for meat and egg production.  Let’s get to it!   Episode Mentions:   41 | What Type of Meat Bird Should I Raise? Cornish Cross, Hybrid and Dual-Purpose Explained   Related Episodes:   06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals   31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today we’re talking about handling stress before butcher, and how it can affect meat quality.  We’ll talk about the meat science behind stress and I’ll give you practical tips you can use to make sure you and your animals are prepared for hauling on butcher day.  You’re already putting in the work to raise your own meat, and with a few management practices, you can make sure that meat will be the highest quality possible.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   25 | Concerned About the Food Supply?  Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis   49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm   54 | Butchering Meat Goats: How Much Meat Do I Get from a Goat Compared to Other Livestock Species?   57 | The Ideal Weight and Age for Butchering Meat Goats to Get Premium Quality Meat   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today I’m going over the numbers from our 2025 kidding season. We’ll talk about our challenges, victories, and the things we learned this year, and I’ll be sharing the actual production numbers from our herd.  We’ll comb through the data, pull out the important stuff, and talk about what worked great and what we’ll change for next year.  Let’s get to it!   Episode Mentions:   26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed?  How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids   16 | The Results Are In! Our 2024 Kidding Season Numbers for the Meat Goat Herd, and What You Should Be Keeping Track of in Your Herd   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

Hi friends!  Today I’ve got an update from County Fair, and then we’re talking about a management decision we’re making to sell some of the goat herd.  We’ll talk about the factors influencing the decision, which goats we’re selling and why, and how it will help us improve our herd long term.  Let’s get to it!   Related Episodes:   30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress   Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart   Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join Email: [email protected] Instagram: @drycreekpastures More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com   This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.