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

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 Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about does, different options on when to breed them, and I’ll give you a strategy to use to determine whether your does are ready to breed or not. I’ll also be talking about replacement does, expected replacement percentages and how to use those numbers to reach your goals of herd improvement and growth. You might want to jot down some numbers today, so grab a notebook and pen and let’s dive in! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friends! We’re harvesting animals and stocking the freezers, so what better time to talk about the food system, food storage, and how to build your food security, specifically as it relates to meat and protein. We’ll be talking about simple ways to get started building your food storage, things to consider when it comes to buying and storing meat, and how to build a relationship with a local rancher so you’ll still have access to food if we see another large-scale failure in our food system. All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friends! The bucks are in rut and smelling ripe, so today we’re going to talk about what you need to know about buck management and selection, if you should own a buck or not, the options you have to get your does bred without owning a buck, and how to select your buck if the time is right for you to own one or two. Let’s dive in and figure out the best breeding option for your farm or homestead! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Mentions: Marking harness reel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwjRp_SNqUu/?igsh=dGp0YnowOG10MjZr Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friends! Last week we started talking about how to choose the right meat goat for your climate and environment, and the things you need to consider. This week we’re talking about the five most prominent meat goat breeds, and we’ll wrap up with tips on where to get your first meat goats and how to get them off to a great start. This episode is loaded with information, so grab a pencil and notebook and let’s talk meat goats! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friends! In the next two episodes we’re talking about how to choose the right meat goat for your climate and environment. Today we’ll discuss things to consider, and next week in Part 2 we’ll talk about the five most prominent meat goat breeds, and we’ll wrap up with tips on where to get your first meat goats and how to get them off to a great start. This episode is loaded with information, so grab a pencil and notebook and let’s talk meat goats! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friend! Hi friends! Today we’re talking about sustainability, how to evaluate options to determine which ones are most sustainable long-term and how that will help you increase your future self-sufficiency. We’ll be talking about a sustainability mindset as it relates to your home, food, and especially livestock. All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi friend! Today we’re talking about lessons learned raising 4-H livestock over the last decade, and how those same lessons apply to raising livestock for food, homesteading, and self-sufficiency. We’ll be talking about the way we approach the 4-H livestock program, which tends to be quite different than others, but it’s resulted in a lot of success for us, and how we use those same things we’ve learned to fast-track our progress raising livestock and growing the homestead. All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi, friend! Today I have a special guest on the show, my oldest daughter, Sage, who turned 18 in March and is finishing up her last year in 4-H. We talk about the lessons she’s learned raising livestock, how it has affected her and her life view, the way it opens communication as we work together, and she even has a bit of advice for parents who want to give their kids the same experience. This is part 2 of 2, and the first part aired last week. You don’t want to miss this! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

Hi, friend! Today I have a special guest on the show, my oldest daughter, Sage, who turned 18 in March and is finishing up her last year in 4-H. We talk about the lessons she’s learned raising livestock, how it has affected her and her life view, the way it opens communication as we work together, and she even has a bit of advice for parents who want to give their kids the same experience. This is part 1 of 2, and the second part will air next week. You don’t want to miss this! All the Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 link) https://amzn.to/42lo3Aq Ketcham’s Mineral Feeders: https://www.ketchamssheepequipment.com/product/mineral-feeder/ Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

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 Best! Millie Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 possible. All the Best! Millie Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 the Best! Millie Mentions: "The Meat Goat Handbook: Raising Goats for Food, Profit, and Fun" by Yvonne Zweede-Tucker: (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3PFyo2n Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

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! Millie Mentions: Backyard Green Films YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/U4myLanaDc0?si=3MOmRZ_odrFU1Suq Premier 1 Supplies Electric Netting Kits (A great place to start): https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric-netting-kits Premier 1 Supplies Electric Netting: https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric-netting Premier 1 Supplies Energizers: https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric-fence-energizers Our favorite mallet: https://www.harborfreight.com/1-12-lb-soft-face-mallet-69048.html Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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/traceability/pin Animal ID and Recordkeeping, USDA Requirements: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs-scrapie-recordkeeping.pdf Premier 1 Supplies Tags: https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/ear-tags-and-tattoo-supplies/ear-tags Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 homestead! All the Best! Millie Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

*** 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 how that will apply to future livestock success! All the Best! Millie Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 strategy that we have been using for years to cover the costs of raising livestock for food, and even making a little money to put back into homestead projects! From the Homestead, Millie Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 when buying goats. Let’s Get Goating! All the best, Millie Mentions: Goat Journal Breeders Directory: https://goatrancher.com/breeders-directory My Go-To Laboratory for Livestock Testing: https://sageaglab.com Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 what your first animals will be, and how to move forward from there. Join me in planning the livestock for your homestead, even if your still in the dreaming phase, you’ll have a plan to start learning about different animals and their care and management. Meet you inside! Millie Connect with me: Email: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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: [email protected] See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock

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 forage-based meat goat operation integrated with cattle in the high desert — and I've spent years figuring out what works and what fails when you're responsible for animals in a demanding environment. On Goat Wise, you'll find practical guidance on goat fencing, feeding strategies, herd genetics, and the kind of steady management that holds up when conditions aren't ideal. This is production-minded livestock management for people who are serious about raising goats well. Welcome to Goat Wise. Hit follow and let's get to it. Connect with me: Email us: [email protected] Check out our website: www.drycreekpastures.com See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures