Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Feeding Goats, Goat Fencing, Livestock Management
Ranked in the top 2% of podcasts globally.
Are you serious about raising goats but tired of advice that doesn't hold up in real life? Are you adding goats to your ranch or homestead and realizing they require different infrastructure, nutrition, and management than other livestock? Do you want fencing, feeding, and production systems that work under pressure?
You're in the right place.
I'm Millie Bradshaw, Animal Scientist and rancher. I grew up in the commercial cattle world, earned a Master's Degree in Animal Science, and now run a forage-based meat goat operation integrated with cattle in the high desert. We've built the infrastructure, refined the genetics, managed the forage, and learned firsthand what works — and what fails — when you're responsible for animals in a demanding environment.
On Goat Wise, we talk fencing that actually contains goats, feeding and mineral strategies that make sense for your operation, genetics that match your environment and your goals, and the kind of steady decision-making that holds up when conditions aren't ideal. Production-minded livestock management for people who are in this for real.
If you're ready to build systems that last, welcome to Goat Wise.
Episodes
Dec 16, 2024
Dec 16, 2024
11 min
Hi friends! It’s been a while since I did an off-grid living episode, so today I’m going to give you the big picture of our off-grid move and then talk about what we miss the most after 2+ years living here and what we’re doing to remedy that.
All the Best!
Millie
Episode Mentions:
09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-Saving Tips for Meeting Animal Requirements, and How We Do It Off-Grid
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000658444169
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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Dec 9, 2024
Dec 9, 2024
13 min
Hi friends! In today’s episode we’ll be talking more about winter hay feeding, monitoring your feed and waste, and how to determine if you’re meeting the nutrient requirements for your goats. I’ll go through the process I use to evaluate our hay feeding and how to make changes if things aren’t working the way you planned. This one’s loaded with details, so grab a pencil, and let’s jump in!
All the Best!
Millie
Episode Mentions:
28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy Save Money
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000673834994
14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Available Forage Nutrition
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000662283120
29 | Are Your Goats Too Fat or Too Thin? How to Body Condition Score and Adjust Your Feeding Strategy for Healthier Goats
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000674700045
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: hello@getgoatwise.com
Dec 2, 2024
Dec 2, 2024
11 min
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 Best!
Millie
Mentions:
Episode 10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thrive
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000659257580
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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Nov 25, 2024
Nov 25, 2024
15 min
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: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cov7E3wAKf8/?igsh=MTd6bmFvaTgwc2JzbQ%3D%3D
Milk Strainers:
This one is my very favorite:
https://www.caprinesupply.com/stainless-steel-mini-strainer.html
This is a more affordable option that I used for years before I upgraded: (affiliate link)
https://amzn.to/3E0NYmF
Milk Filters: (affiliate link)
https://amzn.to/4jf04Jf
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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Nov 18, 2024
Nov 18, 2024
11 min
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 offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com
Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise
Connect with me:
Email: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Nov 11, 2024
Nov 11, 2024
13 min
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 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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Nov 4, 2024
Nov 4, 2024
11 min
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 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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Oct 28, 2024
Oct 28, 2024
16 min
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 University
https://www.in.gov/boah/files/Goats_BCS_pamphlet.pdf
Episode 16:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000663669520
Episode 14:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-goat-wise-meat-goats-dairy-goats-self-sufficiency/id1743448724?i=1000662283120
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: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Oct 21, 2024
Oct 21, 2024
13 min
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 special offers: https://getgoatwiseinsider.grwebsite.com
Join the FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getgoatwise
Connect with me:
Email: hello@getgoatwise.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock
Oct 14, 2024
Oct 14, 2024
10 min
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: drycreekgoats@gmail.com
See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock