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
Escúchala gratis

OFERTA POR TIEMPO LIMITADO | Obtén 3 meses por US$0.99 al mes

$14.95/mes despues- se aplican términos.

** TOP 2.5% 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
  • 91 | Seasonal Planning for Livestock: How We Plan a Ranch Year Without Burning Out

    91 | Seasonal Planning for Livestock: How We Plan a Ranch Year Without Burning Out
    Jan 5 2026

    Planning with livestock isn’t about filling a calendar—it’s about working with seasons, weather, animals, and real life. In this episode, I’m sharing what’s happening on our ranch right now, how we plan a full livestock year, and why I’ve stopped trying to force rigid schedules that don’t fit the reality of ranch life.

    I walk through our annual rhythm with goats, cattle, fencing, meat sales, and family life, breaking down what each season typically holds and how those rhythms shape our planning decisions. From winter breeding and paperwork to spring kidding prep, summer grazing and county fair, and fall weaning and breeding plans, this episode gives you a realistic look at how a working ranch year actually unfolds.

    We also talk about what’s changing for us in 2026—adjustments in breeding decisions, pasture and seeding experiments, a major perimeter fence project, and shifts in meat sales and time commitments. I share why flexibility has become a priority, how over-scheduling creates frustration, and what it looks like to plan with wider margins instead of tighter timelines.

    If you’ve ever felt behind because your plans didn’t survive weather, animals, kids, or life in general, this episode is here to give you permission to plan differently. Seasonal planning isn’t less disciplined—it’s more honest. And for many of us, it’s the only way to stay steady long-term.

    In This Episode, I Cover:
    • What’s happening on the ranch right now and how weather affects daily decisions
    • How we plan a livestock year around seasons instead of rigid schedules
    • A realistic walkthrough of our ranch year, from breeding to weaning
    • What’s changing for us in 2026 and why flexibility matters
    • How infrastructure projects reduce labor and stress long-term
    • Why overplanning creates frustration—and what we’re doing instead
    Key Takeaways:
    • Livestock planning works best when it follows seasons, not calendars
    • Weather, animals, and family life will always change the plan
    • Rigid timelines often increase stress instead of progress
    • Planning with margin creates steadiness and resilience
    • Seasonal rhythms support long-term stewardship and sustainability
    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

    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
    10 m
  • 90 | 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Goats (Hint: They Are NOT Sheep)

    90 | 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Goats (Hint: They Are NOT Sheep)
    Dec 29 2025
    There are a lot of misconceptions about goats that set new owners up for frustration before they ever bring animals home. In this episode, I’m walking through five things I really wish I had understood before I got goats—lessons that would have saved me time, money, stress, and a lot of hard-earned mistakes. We start by resetting expectations around goat behavior and management, including why goats are not sheep and why treating them like they are leads to fence failures, nutrition problems, and constant headaches. I break down the common myth that goats will eat anything, why that idea causes disappointment and even safety issues, and how understanding goat selectivity can actually make them a powerful management tool when used intentionally. We also talk through the difference between poor management that forces goats to eat through hunger and strategic pressure that can be used carefully to influence forage selection. I explain why hunger-driven eating is often a sign that stocking rate, rotation, supplementation, or minerals are off—and when it can make sense to intentionally encourage goats to consume less-preferred plants without compromising health or welfare. Finally, we cover why fence isn’t just one piece of goat ownership but the entire system, why minerals are not optional for goats, and why bottle babies—despite being cute—are not the best place for beginners to start. If you’re planning to get goats, or if you already have them and things feel harder than you expected, this episode will help you step back, reset expectations, and build systems that actually work. In This Episode, I Cover: Why goats are not sheep and how their behavior, grazing style, and nutrition differHow managing goats like sheep creates fence, feeding, and safety problemsThe myth that goats will eat anything—and why it sets people up for disappointmentHow goats actually browse, sample, and select forageWhy hunger-driven eating is usually a sign of management problemsWhen and how goats can be strategically encouragedto eat less-preferred plantsThe role of stocking rate, rotation, supplementation, and minerals in forage selectionSeasonal changes in plant palatability and how that affects grazing plansWhy fence is not a detail but the foundation of goat managementCommon ways electric fence fails and why you need a secure backup enclosureWhy goats have higher mineral demands than many people expectThe problems caused by feeding sheep mineral to goatsWhy mineral availability does not always equal mineral intakeWhy bottle babies are emotionally appealing but management-intensiveThe higher risks and behavioral challenges of bottle-raised goatsWhy bottle babies make the learning curve steeper for beginners Key Takeaways: Goats require different management than sheep or cattleExpectation mismatches are at the root of most goat problemsGoats are selective browsers, not garbage disposalsHunger-based eating is a warning sign, not a management strategyStrategic pressure can influence forage use when applied carefully and intentionallyFence is the system that everything else depends onA solid, goat-proof enclosure relieves pressure when electric fence failsMinerals are essential to long-term goat health and performanceFeeding sheep mineral to goats will cause deficiencies over timeBottle babies are not the easiest place to start learning goatsClear expectations and intentional systems make goats much easier to manage Related Episodes: 03 | Ready for Goats! 4 Steps to Help You Confidently Shop for and Purchase Your First Goats10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thrive17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral? How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy07 | Should My Goats Have Horns or Not? Pros and Cons of Disbudding Goats02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully 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
  • 89 | How to Prepare Your Goat Herd for Breeding Season: Feed, Flushing, Mineral, and Water

    89 | How to Prepare Your Goat Herd for Breeding Season: Feed, Flushing, Mineral, and Water
    Dec 22 2025
    Breeding season success doesn’t start when the buck goes in—it starts weeks earlier with intentional management decisions around feed, body condition, mineral, and water. In this episode, I’m walking through how we prepare our goat herd for breeding season on our ranch, and why flushing is less about grain and more about timing and rising energy intake. I explain how our does typically come off pasture somewhat thin due to declining forage quality and demands of lactation, how we use a gradual hay-based recovery phase after weaning, and why we don’t rush into flushing too early. You’ll hear how we intentionally set the stage so that a modest energy increase 2–3 weeks before breeding actually produces a favorable reproductive response. We also dig into forage-based flushing using high-quality hay, why mineral intake is often the hidden limiting factor in breeding success, and how winter water access quietly controls feed intake, mineral consumption, and overall herd health. If breeding hasn’t gone the way you expected in the past, this episode will help you evaluate the foundational pieces before blaming genetics or the buck. In This Episode, I Cover: What flushing really is—and why it’s primarily an energy strategy, not a grain strategyWhy flushing needs to start 2–3 weeks before breeding, not the day the buck shows upHow our does come off pasture thin from limited forage and lactation—and why that mattersOur post-weaning feeding strategy to gradually rebuild body condition without overdoing itWhy flushing works best when does are moderate condition or slightly thin, not fatHow forage-based flushing works with high-quality hay like sainfoinWhy intake—not just feed quality—determines whether flushing is effectiveThe critical role of mineral intake in estrus expression, conception, and early pregnancyWhy bucks are often overlooked in mineral programs—and how we handle thatThe trace minerals most closely tied to reproductive successHow winter water access limits feed and mineral intakeWhy water is often the most overlooked nutrient in breeding prepSigns that water intake may be holding your herd back reproductivelyHow consistency—not perfection—sets the stage for a successful breeding season Key Takeaways: Breeding success starts weeks before breeding with intentional preparationFlushing works because of rising energy intake, not because of grainGradual post-lactation recovery sets the stage for an effective flushing responseHigh-quality forage can support flushing when intake truly increasesMineral intake—not just availability—can make or break reproductive successBucks need mineral too, even when feeders don’t cooperateWithout adequate winter water, goats won’t eat enough feed or mineralWater is often the limiting nutrient in cold-weather breeding preparationConsistency and timing matter more than aggressive feeding Related Episodes: 14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Forage Nutrition17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral? How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-Saving Tips for Meeting Animal Requirements, and How We Do It Off-Grid24 | 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 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 FB 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
Todavía no hay opiniones