Folgen

  • Send us a text

    Goat owners should be well-versed in the art of the FAMACHA check. We know that bright red mucous membranes of the eyes are a good sign while pale or white mucous membranes could indicate a heavy parasite load and anemia. But if your goat is anemic, outside of administering a dewormer, should you offer additional treatment? Did you know that your goat may also be anemic from causes other than a heavy parasite load?

    In this episode, we are joined again by Dr. Robert Van Saun, professor of veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University and a specialist in ruminant nutrition. Dr. Van Saun covers various other ailments that could lead to anemia in your goat. He also discusses those oral iron supplements and the science behind whether or not they are actually effective in treating an anemic animal. Plus, should you be worried about anemia if your goat eats kale?

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anemia-in-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?

    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Does attempting to select the right minerals for your herd make your head spin? Do you know which three minerals are the primary keys to your herd’s health? How about the proper levels that should be included in a good mineral? Is there an easy way to know that the mineral you selected is appropriate and worth your money?

    In this episode, I cover the nutrients that goats are most likely to become deficient in and what you should look for when shopping for a great loose mineral. I also touch on mineral antagonists and how balance really is key in your nutritional program. Stop throwing your money away buying minerals that are mostly salt. Learn the whats, whys, and hows for choosing a good mineral.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-goat-mineral/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Fehlende Folgen?

    Hier klicken, um den Feed zu aktualisieren.

  • Send us a text

    Welcome to the world of showing goats! Have you ever dreamed of picking the perfect breeding pair that produces such a successful combination of genetics that you wind up with a doe that wins the title of Grand Champion at the National Show? It is likely that more than a few of us have, and the reality is, with the right education on goat conformation and breed standards coupled with an exacting eye, it is possible to produce that winning goat.

    In today’s episode, we are talking to Ed Jodlowski, the breeder and owner of this year’s ADGA Grand National Champion doe. He is also the owner of Kickapoo Valley Dairy Goats and the current president of the American Dairy Goat Association. Having personal experience with all dairy goat breeds except Guernseys, Ed tells the story of the evolution of his own winning herd, and whether luck, skill, or both played into his success.

    He also fills us in on the pros of being a judge in the show ring, confirms the significant benefit of attending goat shows now even if you aren’t yet ready to show your own goats, and shares his surprising plans for the future.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/champion-goats/
    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com


    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    If you’ve ever wondered about the importance of forage and hay testing to ensure your herd is receiving maximum nutrition, today’s episode will provide you with lots of valuable information. We are talking to Cassy Streeter, an expert in near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) who directs Dairy One’s NIR affiliate network of more than 30 members in 16 countries. She also holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in animal science from Cornell University.

    Understanding hay quality can help you optimize animal nutrition and productivity, whether you’re raising goats for meat, dairy, or both. Forage testing can be a component in balancing and managing your herd’s nutrition, and even keep you from spending money on unnecessary supplements or expensive feeds.

    Wading into the world of hay testing can feel overwhelming. Cassy clarifies the entire process–from collecting a sample, choosing which test best fits your needs, how to send your samples to the lab, and what to do with your results once you receive them.

    Cassy also offers some great advice on accessing hay bale corers, also known as hay probes, for sample collection without having to make a costly investment. More importantly, she outlines how to use them correctly. She also pulls back the curtain on how forage testers process and analyze hay samples for accurate results.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hay-testing/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    In this bonus episode with Dr. Woody Lane, a livestock nutritionist and forage specialist and consultant, who's the owner of Lane Livestock Services and the author of three books on forages, grazing, soils, and livestock nutrition, we are tackling some great questions submitted by several Goats 365 members.

    Dr. Lane addresses warm season grasses–great for warmer climates–and the unique biochemical makeup that differentiates them from cool season grasses. He also gives important management advice that could prevent your animals from being sickened by the toxic compounds found in sorghum sudangrass and some tall fescue. He also answers the question we all want to know: “What is the best kind of pasture for goats so you can stop worrying about them dying?”

    This the second half of Dr. Lane’s awesome interview which lasted more than an hour. If you haven’t yet heard the first half, be sure to listen in as Dr. Lane covers the four basic principles of good grazing, offers a practical way to measure how many goats per acre your pasture can support, and explains the amazing function of a rumen.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-grasses/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    It can be a seemingly insurmountable challenge to balance the grazing needs of your herd with the necessity to maintain pasture and forage growth. If only there was a formula to strike that perfect balance between allowing your goats to get the nutrition they need while sustaining plant growth for future grazing. We have good news! There is a clear path to harmony when it comes to grazing.

    Today, we’re talking to Dr. Woody Lane, a livestock nutritionist and forage specialist and consultant, who's the owner of Lane Livestock Services and the author of three books on forages, grazing, soils, and livestock nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Lane delves into the world of management intensive grazing, a nuanced extension of rotational grazing.

    Dr. Lane details the four basic principles you need to implement in order to get the most out of your forage growth and grazing. He also tackles the common question “how many goats per acre?” with a simple, yet brilliant, task you can perform to answer that question with precision for your specific land and herd. As a bonus, Dr. Lane reveals the reason it has been such a challenge to comfortably address that question in the past.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/good-pasture/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Herd shares are often considered to be a sneaky way to circumvent state laws prohibiting the sale of raw milk. But did you know that herd shares themselves are not legal in all 50 states? In addition, there is far more nuance to the endeavor than simply selling shares in your herd–both in terms of legalities and liabilities.

    Today, we’re talking to Alexia Kulwiec, an attorney and Executive Director of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. In this episode, Alexia discusses how herd shares work, the general nuances of state laws regarding herd shares, what a sufficient herd share contract should contain, and, most importantly, the steps you as the producer can take to protect yourself from legal issues.

    She also touches on the Raw Milk Nation interactive map found on the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s website and reveals why maps like this are far from the end-all-be-all when it comes to determining if raw milk sales or herd shares are legal in your state.


    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/herd-shares/


    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Listeriosis can strike fear into the hearts of goats owners, not only because it needs prompt treatment to increase the odds of survival, and because it can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that it shares symptoms with several other serious illnesses, but also because Listeria bacteria exist everywhere.

    Today, Dr. Melissa Holahan, a postdoctoral researcher from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, is joining us to talk about listeriosis and how we can prevent these zoonotic bacteria from sickening both our goats and us. She details the symptoms to watch for, the most common approach to treatment, and the medications you should have available on your farm in order to offer swift treatment.

    Dr. Holahan also touches on popular fermented hays, such as Alfahay and Chaffhaye, and whether or not they are putting your herd at risk of listeriosis. She also stresses the importance of proper hay storage to reduce mold and keeping feeding areas clean.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/listeriosis-in-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Have you ever thought about hosting guests on your farm for additional income, but were too unsure about the logistics to take the first step? Today’s podcast will offer clarity and may even inspire you to finally venture into the world of agritourism.

    We are talking to Scottie Jones, co-owner of Leaping Lamb Farm in Oregon and the founder of FarmStay USA, a national marketing and referral website for working farms that offer agritourism opportunities.

    Agritourism has been growing in popularity for some time. First it was glamping, and now Airbnb has added a “farm stay” category. It is obvious that agritourism could help many farms not only survive, but thrive.

    Agritourism is also an essential educational tool in bridging the gaping divide between urban and rural life, especially in a time when many no longer understand where their food comes from or how hard it can be to produce it.

    In this episode, Scottie discusses the necessary insurance requirements, how FarmStay farms differ from other “farm stays” offered on sites such as Airbnb and VRBO, how to offer a true experience rather than just “a place to stay,” how to effectively market your farm, and her top tip for those looking to get into agritourism. Scottie also addresses the most asked questions: how much should I charge, and how much can I expect to make?

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-stays/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    If you ever wondered about the benefits of milk testing, today’s episode contains an abundance of valuable information. Today we are talking to Jeremy Leather, a field technician at Dairy One, a milk testing lab in New York State. While Dairy One offers multiple services, including forage and soil testing, we are focusing on their excellent milk testing services and how milk testing can have a major positive impact on the health of your herd.

    Jeremy discusses the basics of milk testing and the most common things goat owners test for and why. He also explains the usefulness of the data that comes from each test and how testing could even help your veterinarian provide more effective treatment to a goat suffering from mastitis. Speaking of data, one benefit of milk testing is that you will always have access to it. No more losing binders containing years of collected data on your herd. Replacement data is always available online.

    Finally, Jeremy touches on the added perk of testing for pregnancy through milk testing and the many reasons you should begin milk testing in your herd right away.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/milk-test-reports/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Have you ever wanted to try raw milk, lauded for its health benefits, but were concerned about the safety? Like all raw foods from lettuce to oysters, there is a risk of contamination, but there’s a lot we can do to be sure that all of our raw food, including milk, is as safe as possible.

    We are talking to Mark McAfee, the chairman of the Raw Milk Institute, which was founded in 2011 to help meet the growing demand for safe raw milk and to educate consumers on raw milk safety. He is also the founder of Raw Farm, the largest producer of raw milk in the world.

    Raw milk has been a controversial topic for some time. The debate rages between those who praise its health benefits and the regulators who insist that consuming raw milk holds far more risk than benefit. So, what is the truth? And if we choose to consume raw milk, how can we be certain that it has been handled properly – from the milk stand to cold storage – and is safe to drink?

    In this episode, Mark discusses common pathogens present in raw milk, the basics of what makes raw milk more beneficial than pasteurized, the historical reasoning behind the pasteurization of milk, and how we can ensure that the raw milk we drink is clean and safe. He also touches on the process behind commercial dairy-to-store pasteurized milk.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raw-milk-safety/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Every goat owner has heard that goats don't do well with anesthesia, so we are always understandably nervous when our goats need to be sedated. Dr. Kelly Chen, Veterinary Anesthesiology Resident at Cornell University, joins us in this episode to talk about why goats are so challenging when it comes to anesthesia.

    First, we discuss the difference between anesthesia and analgesia and then we talk about some of the common procedures where anesthesia is used.

    Dr. Chen talks about pain associated with disbudding and what the options are for veterinarians who disbud, as well as owners who do their own disbudding.

    For c-sections, there are three different anesthesia and analgesia options, and Dr. Chen talks about why general anesthesia is no longer preferred.

    In severe cases of urinary calculi, anesthesia is required for a couple of the different treatment options.

    Dr. Chen also talks briefly about other surgical procedures being done on livestock now, such as joint replacement, pacemaker placement, and mastectomy, which require anesthesia.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anesthesia-in-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    New goat breeders frequently ask where and how they can sell their goat kids. When I started with goats in 2002, I bought goats from breeders who had websites, so I assumed I would also need a website for selling my goats. That has been the only sales channel for my goats forever.

    In this episode, Emily Nyman and I discuss what information you need on your website, such as an about page, health history of your herd, photos of your breeding stock, pedigrees, and terms of sale.

    We also talk about user-friendly options for building your website, so you don't have to hire a web designer.

    Because the cornerstone of every good goat breeder website is the photos, we spend a lot of time talking about the time of day, shadows, lighting, position of the goat, where to take photos, and more, including equipment.

    In addition to breeding goats, Emily is also a professional photographer. You can see her photography at her website Emily Nyman.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/creating-a-website-for-your-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    If you've ever thought about starting a business with your dairy goats, today's episode will give you a lot of valuable information. We are talking to PJ Jonas, founder of Goat Milk Stuff, which sells all sorts of products made from goat milk. Although they focus on soap and body care products today, they also sold cheese, yogurt, gelato, and caramels before the pandemic.

    PJ talks about why she started making soap and how it got turned into a business. She explains how she scaled the business from making batches of 28 bars in her kitchen to one of her sons making 415 bars per batch today. You'll also hear what it was like when her soap was featured in major media outlets like The Today Show and Oprah magazine.

    We also discuss the potential downsides of owning a business, such as liability and taxes, and what it's like dealing with some members of the public who make life challenging.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/success-with-dairy-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar



    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Who wouldn't love free food for your goats? But before you call your local brewer or distiller and ask if you can pick up their spent grain, listen to this episode with Dr. Robert VanSaun, vet professor and ruminant nutritionist at Pennsylvania State University.

    Spent brewers grain and distillers grain are popular feed for cattle, but are less commonly used to feed goats. We've used brew grain to feed our pigs and chickens for about ten years, but have shied away from feeding it to our goats because it doesn't come with a guaranteed nutritional analysis or even an ingredient list.

    In this episode, Dr. VanSaun discusses the nutrients we know are in brewer's and distiller's grains and what may or may not be in them, including potentially harmful substances such as sulfur and mycotoxins. We talk about what questions you need to ask the brewmaster before picking up grain, as well as other sources of spent grains.

    Many thanks to our listener, Doris, who requested this episode.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/brewers-grain-for-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    If you've been looking for a smaller breed of goat that's parasite resistant, has excellent mothering skills, and comes in a variety of colors, the Arapawa goat from New Zealand might be a good fit, especially if you are interested in conserving rare breeds.

    In this episode, we are joined by Emily Nyman, Arapawa Goat Breeders Association President and Livestock Coordinator at Conner Prairie in Indiana, a living history farm museum that has a herd of Arapawa.

    Their feral history means that this breed is very hardy, but there are also challenges for those who want to raise them, such as finding breeding stock. With only 300 total goats in the United States, you probably won't find them locally.

    Emily talks about the Arapawa's history, appearance, size, and more in this exciting episode.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/arapawa-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar




    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Can goats threaten your health if you're a pregnant woman? If you are a woman, there are some specific precautions you should be taking with goats giving birth and also when using drugs for synchronization.

    Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and a reproductive specialist, is talking about zoonotic diseases that are of special concern to pregnant women, including toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, campylobacter, brucellosis, and q-fever. We talk about wearing gloves, a face mask, and even eye protection to protect yourself from unexpected splashes of goat body fluids, which can contain infectious organisms that can threaten pregnancy and the unborn child.

    In addition to diseases, women of all reproductive stages can be affected by drugs like Lutalyse, Estrumate, and CIDRs when they come in contact with skin or mucus membranes. The potential for negative outcomes is much worse, however, for pregnant women.

    One of the things we forgot to mention in this episode is that you should never perform mouth-to-mouth on a newborn baby goat because of the risk of contracting a zoonotic disease, a topic that we did discuss in our episode on Infectious Causes of Abortions in goats.

    For more information, you can also check out our episodes on Zoonotic Diseases.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-diseases-and-womens-health/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    If you've ever had a goat with wonky knees, today's episode will shed some light on the problem. When a goat has carpal hyperextension, it means that the knees bend backwards rather than being straight.

    We are joined today by Dr. Erica McKenzie, Professor of Large Animal Medicine, Oregon State University and Dr. Leah Streb, 3rd year Laboratory Animal Medicine Resident, UC Davis, who are just putting the finishing touches on the first study ever to look at this disease. They are talking about how it is diagnosed and the possible genetic link that they are seeing, which may mean that the disease can be passed on to offspring.

    The research on this disease is in its infancy, and if you would like to contribute to future research efforts, you can contribute through one of these options:

    Send a check payable to OSU Foundation at 4238 Research Way; Corvallis, OR 97333. In the memo section, specify Large Animal Medicine/Wonky LegMake a gift online by going the college’s giving page here. In the field underneath “I want to give to” press the x, and instead select or type in “Large Animal Medicine Fund/Wonky Leg.”

    Many thanks to goat owner and podcast listener Carole Zempel of Dragon Hollow Dairy Goats for letting us know about this study.

    See full show notes here >>https://thriftyhomesteader.com/carpal-hyperextension-in-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Have you ever had a goat get an udder even though you are 100% sure she has not been anywhere close to a buck so could not possibly be pregnant? Normally, goats have to go through pregnancy and have a baby before they produce milk, but it's not impossible for a doe to start making milk without getting pregnant.

    A precocious udder is one that fills up with milk even though the doe has not been bred. Most of these will just go away as mysteriously as they appeared with no intervention needed. However, that is not always the case.

    In this episode, we are talking to Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor in Production Management Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, about what causes a precocious udder and what we should and should not do in managing it.

    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/precocious-udders-in-goats/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?

    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

  • Send us a text

    Milk testing can provide you with a plethora of information about your does' milk production and the components of their milk, and they can even earn milk stars, but a lot of people never get started because they find the process daunting.

    Lisa Shepard, board member and former Performance Program Coordinator for the American Dairy Goat Association, joins us to talk about the different types of milk testing and how to get started. We talk about where to find a tester, as well as owner-sampler and group testing. You'll learn about one-day tests, 305-day tests, DHI, and DHIR. Lisa also explains how does and bucks earn milk stars, as well as the things that most commonly trip up owners when they are getting stared.


    See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-milk-testing/

    To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

    Want to support the content you love?
    Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

    Thanks for listening!

    No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

    Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.