Get Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Self-Sufficiency, Sustainable Farm, Homesteading, Off-Grid, Livestock Podcast Por Millie Bradshaw - Animal Scientist Rancher Homesteader arte de portada

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

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

De: Millie Bradshaw - Animal Scientist Rancher Homesteader
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** TOP 2% GLOBALLY RANKED PODCAST **

Are you concerned about the current food supply? Do you want to be more self-sufficient? Are you longing to raise goats and other animals for food but don’t know where to start? Do you wish you had a mentor to walk you through raising livestock?

I’m so glad you’re here!

In this podcast you’ll learn all about raising goats and other livestock, sustainable management systems that will keep you and your animals happy and healthy, and strategies to get self-sufficient by raising your own livestock for food.

Hi, I’m Millie. Animal Scientist, cattle girl turned goat rancher, co-owner of Dry Creek Livestock, and simple living enthusiast. Fifteen years ago, I began having severe joint pain that limited my mobility and affected every aspect of my life. With no answers from the medical community, I got to work researching and found that chemicals in our food supply were causing my problems. I removed them from my diet, and gradually my health and mobility were restored. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to raise all of our own meat, eggs, and dairy. I’ve put three decades of experience and a Master’s Degree in Animal Science together to teach you how to confidently raise livestock and give them the best life possible while fulfilling their ultimate purpose of nourishing your family, and I’m ready to share it with you!

If you’re ready to take control of your food supply, raise livestock with confidence, and provide your family with clean, healthy food, you’re in the right place!

Kick off your muck boots, pour a cup of coffee, and let’s talk livestock.

Email us: millie@drycreekpastures.com

Get premium meat fresh from the ranch: drycreekheritagemeats.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Episodios
  • 98 | 5 Mistakes That Quietly Kill Goat Herd Profitability

    98 | 5 Mistakes That Quietly Kill Goat Herd Profitability
    Feb 23 2026

    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: millie@drycreekpastures.com
    • 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.
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    13 m
  • 97 | How to Create an Efficient Livestock Chore Routine (Step-by-Step)

    97 | How to Create an Efficient Livestock Chore Routine (Step-by-Step)
    Feb 16 2026

    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: millie@drycreekpastures.com
    • 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.
    Más Menos
    12 m
  • 96 | Commercial Meat Goats, Pet Goats and the Management Mistakes That Cause Burnout

    96 | Commercial Meat Goats, Pet Goats and the Management Mistakes That Cause Burnout
    Feb 9 2026
    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 twoHow scale magnifies mistakes in fencing, grazing, nutrition, and parasite managementWhy starting with just two or three goats teaches pet management, not herd managementThe risks of scaling too fast before understanding goat behavior and systemsOur experience selling goats to let infrastructure and management catch upThe difference between pet goats and commercial goats — and why neither is “wrong”How bottle baby behavior affects herd flow, boundaries, and daily managementWhy goat management should work with goat nature, not against itWhat “enough goats to be a herd, but not a crisis” actually looks likePractical starting numbers for building a commercial meat goat herd based on experience Key Takeaways: Goat management must match your end goal to be sustainableToo few goats can teach the wrong lessons for commercial herd managementToo many goats magnify mistakes and accelerate burnoutBottle babies are not bad goats, but they require different management considerationsHealthy goat systems guide behavior while protecting animal welfareClear 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 Herd68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep24 | 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-chartGet Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.comJoin my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insiderJoin the free community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/communityEmail me: millie@drycreekpastures.comSee 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.
    Más Menos
    13 m
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Full of useful information as I am a first time goat owner. Can't wait to hear more!

Wonderfully informative!

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