Hi friends!  In today’s episode we’ll be talking about animal loss in livestock herds, how to prepare for it, how much death loss is likely to happen, and how to get your expectations in line with the realities of raising animals and the losses that come along with it.  It’s important to understand that success isn’t necessarily keeping them all alive, because that’s not possible, but you can have realistic expectations that help you define success in a better, more meaningful way.   All the...

Hi friends!  In today’s episode I’ll be answering some questions that came in after last week’s dairy goat episode.  I’ll be focusing on the actual milking process including stand training your does, milking equipment, and milk handling the way it works for us.  We’re a little unconventional in our dairying practices, so listen in if you lean towards doing things your own way.   All the Best! Millie   Mentions: Instagram Reel – Milking:...

Hi friends!  In today’s episode I’ll be sharing why we got started with dairy does, how we manage them in a very unconventional way, the challenges we had, why it works for us and our busy life, and how you can do it too.  If you’re thinking about getting dairy goats for your own milk consumption or to feed bottle babies, this episode is for you!   All the Best! Millie   Mentions: Sage Ag Labs for testing: https://sageaglab.com   Join our email list and be first to get updates and special...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about preparing your coop and chickens for winter.  We’ll talk about the changing nutritional needs of your birds as they molt and how to meet those needs, some options for easier water, requirements for their shelter and bedding, and the big question, heat lamps.  Should they be used or not?  I’ll also share my strategy to avoid a winter egg drought, and touch on some ways to store eggs for winter use.  Let’s dive in!   All the...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about making livestock decisions on the ranch or homestead, how to evaluate your decision-making process, and how to use that information to make a better-informed decision the next time.  To help explain this, I’ll be sharing about a frustrating and slightly embarrassing problem we faced on the ranch recently.  There are lots of nuggets of knowledge in this episode, so grab your notebook and pen and let's dive in.   All the Best! Millie   Join...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about evaluating your goats to see if they’re healthy, need any hoof work, and if their body condition is right for the season they’re in.  I’ll talk you through determining Body Condition Score, why it’s important, and how to use it to improve the overall health and productivity of your goat herd.   All the Best! Millie   Mentions:   Body Condition Scores in Goats by Langston...

Hi friends!  In this episode we’ll be talking about winter feeding, how to calculate how much hay you need, the best way to store it and a strategy that will help you thrive even when hay prices are volatile or the weather gets extreme.  This information will apply to all species not just goats.  I’ll also be sharing some exciting news and some fun things coming up, so grab a notebook and pencil and let’s jump in!   All the Best! Millie   Join our email list and be first to get updates and...

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:...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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: https://www.jefferspet.com/replamin-gel-plus-300cc/p?skuId=28441   Ketcham’s Mineral...

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:...

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...

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...

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: ...

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:...

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: ...