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
Sep 15, 2025
Sep 15, 2025
19 min
Hi friends! Today’s episode is a little different. I’ve been deep in thought as I’m sure many of you have been also, reflecting on all that has happened recently. I want to share some of what I’ve been thinking about, particularly as it relates to why I care so much about raising livestock, healthy food, and self-sufficiency, as well as what’s coming up for our ranch, the meat business, and this podcast. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
01 | The Story Behind "Get Goat Wise" and How I Went from Ranch Kid to Homesteader
25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis
49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Sep 8, 2025
Sep 8, 2025
11 min
Hi friends! It’s time for a chicken episode! Today we’re talking about what to do with all those roosters you ended up with after buying straight run chicks this year – because that was all you could find, right? We’ll talk about options to deal with this year’s roosters as well as long-term strategies for your flock, including rooster management and setting goals for meat and egg production. Let’s get to it!
Episode Mentions:
41 | What Type of Meat Bird Should I Raise? Cornish Cross, Hybrid and Dual-Purpose Explained
Related Episodes:
06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals
31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Sep 1, 2025
Sep 1, 2025
10 min
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about handling stress before butcher, and how it can affect meat quality. We’ll talk about the meat science behind stress and I’ll give you practical tips you can use to make sure you and your animals are prepared for hauling on butcher day. You’re already putting in the work to raise your own meat, and with a few management practices, you can make sure that meat will be the highest quality possible. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis
49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm
54 | Butchering Meat Goats: How Much Meat Do I Get from a Goat Compared to Other Livestock Species?
57 | The Ideal Weight and Age for Butchering Meat Goats to Get Premium Quality Meat
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Aug 25, 2025
Aug 25, 2025
17 min
Hi friends! Today I’m going over the numbers from our 2025 kidding season. We’ll talk about our challenges, victories, and the things we learned this year, and I’ll be sharing the actual production numbers from our herd. We’ll comb through the data, pull out the important stuff, and talk about what worked great and what we’ll change for next year. Let’s get to it!
Episode Mentions:
26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids
16 | The Results Are In! Our 2024 Kidding Season Numbers for the Meat Goat Herd, and What You Should Be Keeping Track of in Your Herd
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Aug 18, 2025
Aug 18, 2025
12 min
Hi friends! Today I’ve got an update from County Fair, and then we’re talking about a management decision we’re making to sell some of the goat herd. We’ll talk about the factors influencing the decision, which goats we’re selling and why, and how it will help us improve our herd long term. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Aug 11, 2025
Aug 11, 2025
13 min
Hi friends! It’s almost time for County Fair here, and with that comes a lot of reflecting about the kids and their growth doing livestock projects. Today we’re talking about the power of animals and livestock in the lives of our kids, and how responsibility, work ethic, and good mentors can launch kids into a new level of self-confidence doing hard things even when they don’t want to or they think they can’t. Whether you are interested in 4-H, FFA or giving your kids the responsibility of raising livestock outside of a formal program, this episode gives insight into some unexpected benefits when kids grow up raising animals. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
11 min
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about another way to make money with goats – grazing for hire. We’ll talk about the infrastructure you need and different ways you can use the goat herd you already have to bring in some extra income while grazing your goats for other people to help clear out overgrown forage or mitigate fire risk. I’ll talk about our experience grazing for hire, what was challenging, what we loved, and what I think the future holds for this income option. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
13 min
Hi friends! Last week we talked about all the reasons to start with terminal livestock if you’re a beginner or just getting started raising farm animals. Today I’m going to dive into that a little deeper and talk about why you should start with smaller livestock like sheep and goats instead of cattle. We’re going to talk about meat and dairy and risk management, especially through those beginner phases where lots of mistakes and learning happen. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
67 | Why Beginners Should Start with Terminal Livestock First
06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals
47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Jul 21, 2025
Jul 21, 2025
10 min
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about all the reasons to start with terminal livestock if you’re a beginner or just getting started raising farm animals. I’ll explain the advantages to starting with meat animals rather than breeding stock, and how those animals will be your best teacher and set you up for success with your future breeding herds. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals
47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Jul 14, 2025
Jul 14, 2025
14 min
Hi friends! Today we’re talking about what’s happening in the beef market, and what that means for future meat prices. I’m sharing advice from a local rancher on how to build a good relationship so that buying directly from a farmer or rancher works long-term. Mostly, though, I want you to make a plan now to take at least some control over your food supply so you can weather whatever storms of life come your way. Let’s get to it!
Related Episodes:
49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm
47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own
45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab your free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.goatwise.com/kidding-chart
Join the insider email list: https://www.goatwise.com/join
Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com
Instagram: @drycreekpastures
More from the ranch: https://www.drycreekpastures.com
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.