Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-in-america/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

If you’ve ever wondered how goats went from being banned in colonies to beloved on social media, this episode is for you! 

In this episode of For the Love of Goats, host Deborah Niemann talks with Tami Parr, author of Goats in America: A Cultural History  (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases), about how goats have shaped — and been shaped by — American society for over 400 years.

Tami shares how her background as a cheese writer and historian led her to explore the surprising role of goats in U.S. history — from being despised agricultural “troublemakers” in the 1600s to starring in today’s goat yoga classes and artisan cheese shops. She also explains how perceptions of goat milk shifted during the tuberculosis outbreaks of the 19th century, leading to a complete transformation in how Americans viewed goats and dairy. 

Whether you raise goats, love history, or are simply curious about how these resilient animals earned their place in American culture, this episode offers a fascinating journey through time — full of unexpected stories, social change, and a few laughs along the way.

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-milk-ice-cream-and-gelato/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your goat milk into something people line up for, this episode is for you! 

In this episode of For the Love of Goats, host Deborah Niemann chats with Oskar Edwall from Sweden, who started with just a few goats and ended up creating a thriving business making goat milk ice cream and gelato.

Oskar shares how his curiosity for goat milk led to raising his own herd, experimenting with recipes, and eventually perfecting creamy, flavorful gelato that customers can’t get enough of. From using Swedish dairy goats and Anglo-Nubians to learning gelato-making, he explains the science, creativity, and passion behind his success.

Whether you’re dreaming of selling your own goat milk ice cream, experimenting with gelato recipes, or just love hearing about creative ways goats can support a homestead, this episode is packed with inspiration (and maybe a few cravings too!).

You may also enjoy:

• Episode 161 - Turning Goat Milk into Pet Food: Labeling and Licensing Essentials 
• Episode 156 - From Lab Coat to Cheesecloth: Dr. Kandice Marchant’s Delicious Second Act
• Episode 33 - Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/call-the-vet-now/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description 

Most goat owners have faced a moment of uncertainty—staring at a sick goat and wondering, “Should I call the vet?” In this solo episode, Deborah Niemann lays out the answer with clarity and urgency.

While goats are often thought of as hardy animals, they are also prey animals that instinctively hide illness until they’re critically sick. This episode covers the top emergency symptoms that signal you need to stop Googling, skip the Facebook group, and call a veterinarian immediately.

Drawing from decades of goat-keeping experience and real-life stories (including her own hard lessons), Deborah walks through what serious symptoms look like, what they might mean, and why waiting too long can cost your goat its life. She also explains when supportive care at home can help while you wait for the vet to arrive—and when it can’t.

What you’ll learn:

• The most common and overlooked emergency signs in goats
• Why not eating or drinking is a major red flag, not a minor issue
• How to identify true bloat (ruminal tympany) versus hay belly
• The meaning behind a goat screaming, grinding teeth, or lying down and not standing
• The difference between ruminal and abomasal bloat—and why it matters
• Signs of neurological distress, including circling, blindness, and seizures
• Why urinary blockage is a life-threatening emergency in wethers
• How to tell the difference between pooping and peeing behavior
• The dangers of bloody or rusty urine, and when it could signal copper toxicity
• Why Pepto Bismol is not a real treatment for diarrhea in kids
• What a goat’s fever (or low body temp) may indicate—and what to do
• Recognizing tetanus symptoms before it’s too late

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you are new to selling goats, you might feel like you can't say "no" to any potential buyers. I am here to tell you otherwise.

You will hear two main points today as I tell you a few stories of people that I refused to sell goats to.

First, you should always ask questions to be sure that the buyer has done their homework and knows what a goat needs — and that they can provide that! After all of the love, care, and money you have put into raising healthy goats, you want to be sure that they go to a home that's going to continue that same excellent care.

You also want to be sure that the buyer knows what to expect as a goat owner. Goats need proper housing and food, and no, they can't be taught to not eat your rose bushes.

The second thing I talk about is requiring a deposit to hold goats so that you don't wind up holding a goat and saying no to potential buyers because you think the goat is already sold.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/selling-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Since parasite research in goats is always evolving, I was excited to see that the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control has revised their dewormer usage chart. Although most of the dosages have stayed the same from previous chart, there are a lot of new recommendations that you'll find in the footnotes.

We are joined in this episode by one of the authors of the revision, Michael Pesato, DVM, DABVP, Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Pesato talks about what off-label drug usage means — and what it does not. And he talks about why we should discontinue some of the practices that have been around "forever," such as giving an injectable orally. That means injectable dewormers have no place in a goat owner's medicine cabinet.

We cover all the dewormers, including morantel tartrate — the only dewormer that's a feed additive. It's also one that I've never heard a vet recommend. Dr. Pesato even dispels the myth that combination horse dewormers are combination goat dewormers.

For more information on using drugs off-label, check out the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-dewormers/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

It's probably safe to say that everyone has heard of fainting goats, which are more correctly called myotonic goats, and they don't actually faint.

Today we are separating fact from fiction in our conversation with Phil Sponenberg, DVM, Ph.D. of Virginia Tech who has been breeding myotonics for 30 years. He is also the technical advisor for The Livestock Conservancy, which has the myotonic goat on the "recovering" section of the Conservation Priority List, where the breed was originally considered critically endangered.

Dr. Sponenberg discusses the history of the myotonic goat and what exactly is a "fainting goat." Although you can milk any goat, this breed is primarily a meat goat.

If you've thought about goats but were scared off by the idea that they are loud and hard to keep fenced in, then a myotonic might be the breed for you. They are quieter than some breeds, and that same medical condition that causes them to faint also means that they can't jump or climb fences.

But if you are strictly considering the myotonic because you wanted to be entertained by fainting goats, then you might want to reconsider because "fainting" really doesn't happen that often.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/fainting-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Hypocalcemia in goats, sometimes called milk fever, is one of the most misunderstood maladies in the goat world. This confusion stems from research done on cows, which does not apply to goats, but is still often referenced by many sources as if it does apply.

Today's guest, Dr. Robert Van Saun of Pennsylvania State University, once again reminds us that goats are not little cows. We are talking about the causes of hypocalcemia in goats and how that compares to cows, as well as how to prevent it and the treatment.

Dr. Van Saun talks about intravenous, sub-q, and oral treatment, and how quickly we should expect each one to work.

We also discuss the relationship between hypocalcemia and pregnancy toxemia and how a diet to prevent one can also help to prevent the other.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hypocalcemia-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

During kidding season, lots of goat owners start to worry about ketosis and pregnancy toxemia in their does.

In today's episode, Dr. Robert VanSaun, professor of veterinary science and extension veterinarian at Pennsylvania State University, talks about what causes does to go into ketosis and how that can lead to pregnancy toxemia.

If left untreated, it can ultimately lead to a doe's death. So, we are also talking about how to prevent this potentially devastating condition in the first place.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pregnancy-toxemia-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Practices with birthing goats vary tremendously from one breeder to another. Some people are very hands-on while others want to stay away as much as possible. How do you figure out what you feel comfortable with?

In today's episode, I'm talking about the different reasons why a kid may be born weak or why a doe may have difficulty giving birth. Although it sounds like you are breeding the best of the best when you are more hands-off, I give you an example of when that was not true — and the tiny weak one turned out to be the best.

Here's the link to the free course - https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/kidding-season

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-birthing-how-much-should-you-help/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

It's not uncommon for someone to contact me about a goat problem that they have, and to resist doing anything "unnatural," such as providing a commercial mineral for their goats. What most people don't realize is that they aren't raising their goats naturally to begin with.

In this episode, I'm talking about why my book is called Raising Goats Naturally, what that means, and what it does not mean. I also talk about the five reasons it is impossible for most of us to raise goats naturally in much of North America.

Other episodes referenced in this episode:

#46 Healthy Weeds and Poisonous Plants with Kim Cassida, April 28, 2021
#54 Nutritional Wisdom with Dr. Fred Provenza, August 4, 2021
#41 Copper Deficiency with Dr. Robert VanSaun, March 17, 2021
#37 Selenium Deficiency with Dr. Robert VanSaun, February 16, 2021

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-naturally/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If a herd has more than one breed of goat, odds are good that they also have some experimental goats, which are crosses of other purebred standard-sized goats. Bucks are determined creatures, and unplanned breedings happen in most herds.

However, there is a huge difference between accidental crosses and crosses that are planned to create the best goats to meet your goals. For Erika McKenzie, head cheesemaker and dairy herd manager at Pennyroyal Farm, that means creating crosses of her three different breeds to create the goats with the best milk for making cheese.

In this episode, Erika talks about her breeding strategies and why she loves being unencumbered by specific breed standards, as well as the dairy's business model and their cheese subscription program. She also discusses her early days with the goat herd at UC-Davis and how her goats wound up on ADGA's Top Ten list the year after starting to milk test.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/experimental-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you are interested in a medium-sized goat for milking, you should consider the Toggenburg, which is always a shade of brown, somewhere between tan and dark chocolate. The Toggenburg goat's butterfat average is the lowest of the dairy breeds, but it still makes great cheese.

Today we are talking to Leslie Cardoza owner of Bar XX Dairy Goats, who has been breeding Toggenburgs for milk and show in California since 2003. She has had goats on the ADGA Top Ten list for milk production every year since 2010, and one year her goats took seven of the ten spots.

In addition to talking about characteristics of the Toggenburg goat, she also talks about milk testing and how that affects her breeding decisions.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/toggenburg-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you are looking for a larger dairy goat that produces a lot of milk and has fairly low butterfat, then the Sable goat might be the one for you, especially if you like the idea of having a breed that is not very common.

In this episode, I'm talking to Klisse Foster who has been raising Sable goats since the 1980s. Her goats are often on the American Dairy Goat Association's Top Ten list for milk production. She shows her goats too and can usually be found at the ADGA national show, even in years when Sables are not sanctioned.

We also talk about how to overcome the challenges of raising a goat breed that is less common by doing things like using frozen semen for artificial insemination and leasing bucks.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/sable-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description 

Losing a beloved animal—whether a goat, dog, cat, or any other companion—can be absolutely heartbreaking. In this episode of For the Love of Goats, I’m joined by Beth Bigler, a double-certified Pet Loss Grief Counselor, animal companion end-of-life doula, and trained pet chaplain. Beth is also the author of the upcoming book Honoring Our Animals: 365 Meditations for Healing After Pet Loss (out June 3 from Quarto Books), and the creator of the popular Instagram account @honoringouranimals.

Together, we discuss how grief over losing an animal is real, valid, and deserving of support. Beth shares insights from her years of working with grieving pet owners, veterinary professionals, and animal care workers—and how we can start to heal after a loss. Whether you’re currently grieving or want to better support someone who is, this conversation is filled with compassion, honesty, and practical tools for navigating this tender experience.

 🐐  🐐  🐐 

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Today's episode started as a discussion of Nubian goats with Joanne Danielson who has been raising them for 40 years. However, because of Jo's experience as a professional cheesemaker, it quickly turned into a deep dive into the science of cheesemaking and how starting with the right goats can make all the difference.

At 5%, Nubian goats have the highest butterfat of any of the standard breeds. But because Jo is serious about making the best cheese, she has incorporated genetic testing into her toolkit so that she can focus on breeding goats with the best genes for making cheese. And she quickly adds that if you have any issues with milk sensitivities, these goats would not be the best choice for you.

If you love goats and you love cheese, this is the episode for you!

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/nubian-goats-cheesemaking/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

It can be so challenging to choose a breed of goat to raise. But you should not choose your goats like you choose pets, which is often based on appearance, color, or size. If you want your goats to serve a purpose, such as dairy or meat, you really should choose the breed that is going to help you meet your goals.

Since we don't drink milk, our goat milk is almost all used exclusively for making cheese, which is why we have Nigerian dwarf. Since they have the highest butterfat of any breed, we get a much higher cheese yield than we would with another breed. But if you need several gallons of milk a day, I would suggest one of the larger dairy goat breeds.

In this episode, I also discuss why you should start with only one breed, as well as the disadvantage of having breeds of different sizes.

Full show notes here -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-a-goat-breed-for-your-farm/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

As I've received more messages from people with kids born hairless or with goiters, I've become more interested in the topic of iodine and goats because those symptoms occur in kids that are iodine deficient.

You don't usually hear anyone talking about iodine and goats unless the topic of kelp comes up, and then the conversation can swing wildly between people worried about deficiency or toxicity. In today's episode, I am joined again by Dr. Robert VanSaun, Professor of Veterinary Science and Extension Veterinarian in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University.

We talk about symptoms of iodine deficiency in adult goats, as well as newborn kids. We also take a deep dive into providing kelp for goats and how labels don't always give you the information you need.

Full show notes here --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/iodine-deficiency-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Coxiella burnetii is the bacteria that causes coxiellosis in goats and Q-fever in humans, and although it is not super common, all goat owners need to be aware of it so that they can prevent their goats and themselves from being infected.

Coxiellosis in goats is highly infectious and can cause abortion storms in herds. Humans can be infected via aerosols (like COVID), birth secretions, feces, and raw milk. This disease can be especially bad in pregnant women.

In this episode, I am talking to infectious disease expert Dr. Charles Gaiser from the USDA about the transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this devastating disease.

Full show notes here --  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/q-fever-and-coxiellosis-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Have you ever wanted to produce 100% of your food? Well, that's exactly what Alexia Allen and her husband Daniel Kirchhof did in 2017. In this episode, she talks about how goats played a central role in their year of hand-harvested food. They ate nothing — not even salt — that was not harvested by them or their friends. 

How did they get the idea to go a whole year without purchased food? What did they do to prepare? How did goats fit into the picture?

Alexia talks about her experience making cheese without purchased cultures or rennet, as well as how she as a former vegan was able to butcher some of their baby goats to make rennet from the stomaches. This episode includes my favorite laugh-out-loud moment when Alexia tells us about a 6-year-old's assessment of the cheese she made with her homemade rennet.

I also share our experience from many years ago trying to make cheese without store-bought cultures, and we talk about how much tolerance we have for learning things by trial and error. And ultimately, how important is it that we strive for total self-sufficiency?

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-in-a-hand-harvested-food-year/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Although everyone pretty much agrees that goats do a good job of consuming just the right amount of loose minerals when they are available free choice, there are still a lot of people who don't think goats (or other animals) can selectively choose to consume plants that they need when they need them.

The concept of "nutritional wisdom" is something that Dr. Fred Provenza wound up studying throughout his career at Utah State University. I've heard about Dr. Provenza's research for about as long as I've raised goats, so it was really interesting to be able to talk to him in this episode.

While most people would look at goats eating urine-soaked rat houses or a cow eating a rabbit and assume that it had no clue what it was doing, Dr. Provenza asked why.

Full show notes here ---  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/nutritional-wisdom-of-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

For more information

Read about Dr. Provenza's research and other researchers studying "Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, Vegetation, and Ecosystem Management" at Behave.net.

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If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

After writing about our experience when one of our does had squamous cell carcinoma, I've been contacted by quite a few other goat owners who have had a goat that also had that form of skin cancer.

But Mary Brennan really got my attention when she emailed and told me she has had six goats with confirmed squamous cell carcinoma! She noticed that some of the goats were related, which caused her to dive deep into the history of the Nigerian dwarf breed, as well as skin cancer in other species. Ultimately that led her to a researcher at the University of California at Davis, who is now collecting data to study the potential role that genetics might play in this deadly disease.

Full show notes here ---  https://thriftyhomesteader.com/squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-nigerian-dwarf-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

You can visit Herron Hill Dairy online at...

Website

Facebook

For more information

Cancer in Goats: Squamous cell carcinoma

What’s So Great About Nigerian Dwarf Goats?

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Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Someone emailed me after her first experience tattooing goats and said, "There has to be a better way to identify goats. What can you tell me about microchips?" Luckily I had already scheduled an interview with Allysse Sorenson, Chief Executive Herder of The Munch Bunch and webmaster at HireGoats.com.

Allysse has microchipped all of her caprine "employees" to not only identify them but also to keep track of them. In this episode, we are talking about why she decided to microchip her goats, how a microchip works, and some common misconceptions about microchips.

We also talk about Scrapie program requirements for identifying each goat, the different brands available, and where to place the microchip on the goat, as well as who might not want to microchip their goats.

Allysse goes on to talk about apps and technologies related to microchips and how they can make your record keeping easier.


Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/microchipping-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Zinc deficiency is often suspected when a goat is losing hair, but there are other reasons for hair loss, and that is not the only symptom of zinc deficiency. In this episode, we are talking about zinc with Dr. Robert VanSaun from the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. 

First, he talks about how zinc affects 200 different functions in the body, and it is unfortunately deficient in all forage in the U.S. Goats need at least 40 ppm zinc in their diet, but most forage is closer to 25 ppm. 

Then we discuss interactions with other minerals and how too much of some minerals can cause a zinc deficiency.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/zinc-for-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Some people talk about sheep and goats as if they are practically the same species, but nothing could be further from the truth. I've been breeding and milking Nigerian dwarf goats since 2002 and LaMancha goats for about 10 years. It may come as a surprise that I also bred Shetland sheep for 12 years and have had Katahdin hair sheep for six years now.

In this episode, I am talking about how the two species are similar and different and why you might prefer one species over the other.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-vs-sheep/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/from-lab-coat-to-cheesecloth/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

What happens when a medical career ends—but a passion for something totally different begins? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kandice Marchant, a retired physician who traded her lab coat for a cheesecloth. After years of serving patients, Kandice now crafts artisan cheese, bringing a scientist’s precision and a cheesemaker’s creativity to every batch.

We talk about:

• How her medical background turned her on to cheesemaking
• What sparked her interest in artisan cheese to begin with
• Creating her own signature cheeses 
• Opening a retail shop
• Why it's never too late to start a second act

If you’ve ever dreamed of changing careers, getting into cheesemaking, or just love hearing from people who follow their passion—you’ll love this episode.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/from-lab-coat-to-cheesecloth/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

When my daughters were teenagers, they loved showing our goats. It was a great way for us to learn about goat conformation and to see how our goats compared to others. It also provided an opportunity for us to meet other goat owners.

In this episode, we are talking to Ellen Dorsey of Dill's-A Little Goat Farm in Oklahoma, who has been raising goats for two decades and showing for almost as many years. She talks about why she started showing goats and provides tips for anyone who wants to get started showing goats or improve their herd with an eye towards showing.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/showing-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

You can visit Dills-A-Little Goat Farm online at …

Website

Facebook

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Because barber pole worm (haemonchus contortus) causes so many deaths among goats, we don't talk about other worms much. Barber pole is the worm that sucks blood and causes goats to become anemic, which can cause a goat to go downhill rapidly and even die.

Goats can be walking around with a host of other worms in their body, however, and ironically most of those worms are unimportant and don't cause disease. So, why are we talking about them? Because most people think that all worms must be killed, and ultimately, the attempt to kill all the worms can result in the barber pole worm killing your goats.

Since barber pole worm can become resistant to dewormers, we should only use dewormers when the health of the goat is being negatively affected by worms. The more we use a dewormer, the sooner barber pole is going to become resistant to that dewormer — and then barber pole can kill your goats.

In this episode, I am talking about these common but unimportant worms with Dr. Ann Zajac, Professor Emeritus of Parasitology at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. We're discussing tapeworms, threadworms (strongyloides), pinworms, whipworms, and lungworms, and why we don't usually need to be worried about their existence inside our goats.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/common-but-unimportant-worms-in-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

For more information:

• American Association of Small Ruminant Parasite Control 
• Copper Oxide as a Dewormer
• Deer Worms in Goats
• Natural Parasite Control with Lespedeza
• Roundworms and Goats
• Using Dewormers Correctly
• Worms During Kidding Season

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you have goats for very long, you may realize that some never need deworming while others need it frequently. There is definitely a genetic component involved in a goat's natural resistance or resilience to worms.

In this episode I'm talking to Andrew Weaver, Ph.D., Small Ruminants Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University about genetic resistance to worms in goats and sheep. Although there has been a lot more research done on genetic resistance in sheep, goat owners can learn from their playbook and use some of the same selection tools for improving the worm resistance of their herds.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/genetic-resistance-to-worms-in-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

For more information:

• American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
• Worms During Kidding Season
• Roundworms and Goats
• Deer Worms in Goats
• Using Dewormers Correctly

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you look online for a list of plants that are poisonous to goats, you might think you need to chop down trees and pull up dozens of weeds to keep your goats safe. Those lists can include things like oak and maple leaves, which my goats eat regularly because my farm is covered with them. The fact is that goats actually have a much higher tolerance for poisonous plants than horses and some other animals. So, what's a conscientious goat owner to do? 

In this episode, I'm talking to Kim Cassida from Michigan State University as we talk about the fact that many weeds can actually very nutritious for goats while the number of plants poisonous to goats is actually pretty low.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/healthy-weeds-and-poisonous-plants/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you ever wanted to sell your goats or sheep to someone in another country, then you are already familiar with the US's problem with scrapie. It's not a huge problem, but having anything more than zero cases for seven years means that most countries will not allow our sheep and goats to be imported into their country.

In this episode, I am talking to Charles Gaiser, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, who is a sheep and goat epidemiologist with the USDA, APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service), VS (Veterinary Services), RHC (Ruminant Health Center), Small Ruminant Health Team, and we are talking about scrapie, which is a spongiform encephalopathy similar to "mad cow disease" but in goats and sheep. 

Because we have animals in the US with this disease, breeders can only sell goats and sheep to other countries if they have a herd or flock that is certified scrapie free, which takes seven years of testing and surveillance. 

Every time I get an inquiry from someone in another country who wants to buy my goats, I have to say no because my flock is not certified free of scrapie. I've thought about enrolling, but then I just keep hoping that the US can go seven years without any cases. I got really excited in 2019 when I heard that we had gone three years with no positive cases of scrapie! But then there was another one, so that resets the national clock back to zero. 

In this episode, we are talking about the disease, the symptoms, testing, and what you can do to get your herd certified free of scrapie and sell goats internationally.

Check out an update about scrapie  ---  Scrapie Updates in Goats and Sheep for 2025

To see the most recent episodes, visit FortheLoveofGoats.com

For more information

• Main USDA Sheep and Goat Webpage:

USDA APHIS | Sheep and Goat Health

• National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) Webpage:

USDA APHIS | National Scrapie Eradication Program

• NSEP Standards:

Microsoft Word - nsep_program_standards 2019 final.doc (usda.gov)

• Designated scrapie epidemiologists in each state for questions on scrapie:

Official Designated Scrapie Epidemiologists and Local Points of Contact List (usda.gov)

• To request official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID or both, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824).  Free tags can be provided if producer has not received free tags in the past

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Margaret Hathaway and Karl Schatz first entered our lives in 2004 during their Year of the Goat when they traveled from coast to coast learning about all things goat. They were enamored with these amazing creatures, and they knew they wanted to do something with goats. But what?

Instead of just reading a couple of books, they decided to literally write a book, as they visited goat dairies, the circus, pack goat operations, slaughterhouses, and even homesteads that had goats as an integral part of their plan for greater self-reliance.

After 12 months and thousands of miles, they ultimately settled on a small homestead in Maine and decided to start an agritourism business with goats as the centerpiece.

In this episode, I'm talking to Margaret about their trip, their experiences, and why they ultimately decided on tourism rather than one of the other many goat businesses they learned about. And what it's like sharing your farm with total strangers, both pre-Covid and during.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/agritourism-on-ten-apple-farm/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

You can visit Ten Apple Farm online at ...

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

If you are thinking about starting an agritourism business, also check out previous episodes on ...

• Avoiding Diseases with a Biosecurity Plan
• Zoonotic Diseases and Agritourism
• Goat Law

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

There is an old veterinary saying that most animal diseases are bought and sold. It can be so tempting to buy every cute goat that you see, but there are some very good reasons to only buy your animals from reputable breeders who have herds that have tested negative for common diseases.

In this episode, I am talking to Patty Scharko, DVM, MPH, a Field/Extension Veterinarian at Clemson University in South Carolina about keeping your goats health with a good biosecurity plan. It all starts with buying healthy animals and then being careful to not bring home any germs that will cause diseases. 

We talk about annual herd testing for the most common diseases, as well as how to keep your goats safe when people visit your farm or you go to goat shows. 

To learn more about caprine arthritis encephalitis, check out the "Working to Eradicate CAE" podcast we did a few months ago.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/avoiding-diseases-with-a-biosecurity-plan/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

To learn more about biosecurity:

Dr. Julie Smith’s biosecurity grant funding provides:
Biosecurity Training (videos)
Youth, 4-H and FFA Biosecurity Learning Modules

Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health:
Small Ruminant Diseases and Resources

For more information on infection control:
Disinfection (info about disinfectants, bacteria, and viruses)

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Most of us love our goats so much and want to share their awesomeness with the world. Unfortunately, that is not a risk-free proposition because there are some diseases that goats can transmit to humans — even healthy goats!

In today’s episode, we are talking to Megin Nichols, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, at the Center for Disease Control where she leads the team that investigates multi-state outbreaks of salmonella, E. coli, and other zoonotic diseases. I first heard her speak at a conference of the American Dairy Goat Association where she talked about a huge outbreak of E. coli that occurred in Connecticut when a farm decided to have an open farm day where visitors could get up close and personal with their goats.

We are talking about how you can protect yourself, as well as guests who visit your farm. In addition to that, we also talk about protecting yourself when delivering baby goats, butchering chickens, and doing just about anything that involves poop or bodily fluids that come from livestock.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/zoonotic-diseases-and-agritourism/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

Stickers to hand out at events:

1. Washing hands after petting zoo: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/images/social-media/v1-wash-your-hands-ig.jpg
2. Washing hands after an animal exhibit: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/images/social-media/v4-wash-your-hands-after-exhibit-ig.jpg

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you're confused by everything you've heard about copper needs in goats, then hopefully this episode will clear things up.

We are joined again by Dr. Robert VanSaun who teaches veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University and specializes in ruminant nutrition, and he debunks common myths while explaining symptoms of deficiency and toxicity, and how they are different, as well as where to start in your copper supplementation program. He also drives home the idea that all nutrition is local, and you can't simply copy what someone is doing on another farm.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/copper-deficiency-and-toxicity-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Although we are finally getting the word out that current research shows that you should not routinely deworm goats or deworm the whole herd at one time, one of the last old-fashioned ideas about dewormers is still hanging on -- the idea that you must deworm all does after kidding (or within a week or two before kidding). The fact that does have often have an increase in their fecal egg counts around the time of kidding has caused people to believe that deworming is necessary. However, this comes from a misunderstanding of how correlation in this case does not mean there is a cause and effect.

Most people are not aware that worms do NOT hatch inside the goat, so more eggs in a fecal does not equal more worms in the goat. Worms need oxygen to hatch, so they only hatch on pasture. That means that the increase in fecal egg count does not cause the poor body condition that you may see in some does after kidding. In this episode, I am once again talking to Susan Schoenian, a sheep and goat specialist at the University of Maryland Research Center, as we talk about how kidding affects a doe's immune system, as well as what we need to do about it -- or not. And what can we do other than administer a dewormer?

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/worms-during-kidding-season/

To see the most recent episodes, visit  FortheLoveofGoats.com

For more information

• Copper Oxide as a Dewormer 
• Using Dewormers Correctly
• Natural Parasite Control with Sericea Lespedeza
• American Association of Small Ruminant Parasite Control

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-polio/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

Goat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. 

In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Melissa Holahan, a small ruminant veterinarian, goat breeder, and former lecturer and research assistant at Washington State University. As a breeder of Nigerian Dwarf and Alpine goats herself, Dr. Holahan brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and hands-on experience to this important conversation.

Dr. Holahan explains that goat polio isn’t technically a disease on its own, but rather a syndrome caused by brain swelling (cerebral edema), often linked to a disruption in thiamine (vitamin B1) production. You’ll hear why early diagnosis and veterinary involvement are critical—and why relying solely on Facebook advice or over-the-counter B complex may not be enough to save your goat. She also shares what recovery can look like, along with potential long-term side effects.

Key Takeaways:

• What goat polio is and why it’s more accurately considered a syndrome
• How it differs from listeriosis, meningeal worm, and rabies
• Early signs and symptoms to watch for, including blindness, nystagmus (eye twitching), and mobility issues
• The role of thiamine in treatment—and the risks of incorrect dosing
• Environmental and dietary factors that can contribute, such as moldy feed, grain overload, and toxic plants
• Prevention tips, including proper nutrition, clean feeding practices, and feed security 

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

I've always referred to colostrum as liquid gold. Whenever someone asks me what they should give a kid when it's born, the answer is short and simple -- colostrum. When a kid is born, the number one goal is to get colostrum into it as soon as possible. After recording this episode, I am even more appreciative of this amazing food that mama goats make for their babies.

Dr. Robert Van Saun, a professor of veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University, returns to talk about all of the amazing properties of colostrum, as well as how much kids need, when they need it, and what can mess things up. (Hint: do not milk your goat before she kids!) 

Dr. Van Saun also talks about how you can tell if colostrum is higher or lower quality, including recent research and how to test colostrum.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/colostrum-for-baby-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit FortheLoveofGoats.com

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Thanks for tuning in!

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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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Whether you live in Florida or Canada, odds are good that you will be worried about your goats giving birth when it is cold out. However, the definition of cold can vary dramatically between those two places. When I'm talking to people in southern states, they are worried when temperatures are dipping below 50. Whereas those of us in Illinois and other northern states don't worry too much until it looks like temperatures will be dipping into the single digits or below zero.

We've had more kiddings below zero than I can recall at this point, and personally, I'd be happy if it never happened again. There are so many things to worry about at those temperatures, which are not a concern at warmer temperatures. 

In this episode, I am talking to Lisa and Michael Davis of Sweet Doe Dairy, whom you first met in Episode 18, which was about their gelato dairy in Vermont. Since they have temperatures that are similar to Illinois in winter, I thought it would be interesting to compare stories and experiences about goats giving birth in cold weather.

You can follow Sweet Doe Dairy on Facebook and Instagram. 

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/kidding-in-cold-weather/

To see the most recent episodes, visit FortheLoveofGoats.com

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Selenium is a very important mineral in a goat's diet. However, since most soil in the U.S. is deficient in selenium, and the U.S. government limits the amount of selenium that can be added to goat feeds and minerals, it's not that easy to make sure your goats get enough selenium.

In this episode, I'm talking to veterinary and ruminant nutritionist, Dr. Robert Van Saun, a professor of veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University. He talks about the notorious history of selenium, as well as symptoms of deficiency. You'll learn how much selenium goats need in their diet and how to make sure they are getting it.  We also talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly in terms of selenium supplements. (Spoiler alert: So-called "selenium gel" does not actually have enough selenium in it to be helpful for a goat that is actually deficient in selenium.)

If you are listening to this episode while driving or milking goats, and you have an urge to start taking notes, remember that the transcript is on the Thrifty Homesteader website, so you can review all of the numbers that Dr. Van Saun shares.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/selenium-deficiency-and-toxicity-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

What is the difference between a controlled study and observations that you make on your farm? In this episode, I’m talking to Joan Burke, Ph.D., who has been researching alternative dewormers in small ruminants for about two decades.

In addition to talking about some of her parasite research, we also are debunking some myths that you may have heard. Plus we are talking about the importance of randomly assigning goats to a control group (that receives nothing) to compare to a treatment group, as well as a few others important factors involved in figuring out what treatment caused what response.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/basics-of-goat-research/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

In addition to being the author of the newly released book, Grow Your Own Spices, Tasha Greer is also a homesteader and goat owner. Today we are talking about extended lactations in Nigerian dwarf goats, as well as making cheese without a recipe.

Although most people only milk their goats for a few months or a year at most, many goats are capable of continuing to produce milk for two to three years. This is something we've been doing on our farm for awhile, so I was excited to learn that Tasha milks her does for an extended period without rebreeding.

Tasha uses her goat milk to make homemade cheese for her family, and we also talk about how she doesn't let her cheesemaking be defined by recipes. Instead, she has created her own unique cheeses.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/extended-lactations-and-impromptu-cheeses/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Meningeal worm, also known as deer worm, is a worm that is normally found in white tail deer, but goats can become infected. In this episode Dr. Tatiana Stanton, a goat and sheep specialist with Cornell University Extension, is talking about how deer worm is different than intestinal worms that goats have, symptoms of an infection, and treatment. 

Although deer worm is not nearly as common as intestinal worms, they can be much more deadly. While a goat can walk around with thousands of roundworms in its digestive tract, a single deer worm in the spinal column or brain stem can paralyze a goat and even kill it, if it is not treated. Getting treatment started as quickly as possible also plays a big role in a successful outcome.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/deer-worm-in-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit FortheLoveofGoats.com

For more information:

Deer Worm Factsheet for goat and sheep producers, Cornell University

Deer Worm Treatment Protocols, Small Ruminant Parasite Research, Cornell University

Meningeal Worm (Deer, Brain Worm) by Dr. Mary Smith, DVM, and Dr. Tatiana Stanton (PowerPoint presentation)

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you've had friends taste your cheese and tell you that you should go pro and start selling it, this is the episode for you. Years ago when that happened to me, I visited Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery in Illinois for a two-day workshop to learn more about turning my passion into a business. 

Unlike most of my guests whom I've only known online, I've personally known Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell for more than a decade, so this is an especially fun episode for me. Leslie tells the story of why they decided to build a creamery and how they got started, as well as some of the lessons learned along the way.

 Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/prairie-fruits-farm-and-creamery/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

If you ask any goat breeder what is their favorite breed, they will most likely tell you it's the breed they are raising. However, there is no perfect breed. Each one has its own pros and cons. In the world of meat goats it is not uncommon to hear people say that boers provide more meat, whereas kikos have better parasite resistance — and the discussion usually ends with those two breeds.

Richard Browning, Ph.D., of Tennessee State University, has been studying the genetic differences between boer, kiko, Spanish, and myotonic goats since 2001. In this episode he talks about the differences that they have found in their research herd, which numbers about 250 head.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/meat-goat-genetic-research/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Note: We’re no longer using SpeakPipe, so SpeakPipe.com/ThriftyHomesteader  is no longer active.  

Got a question? 🤔 

Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/listener-qa-your-goat-medicine-cabinet/ --  and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

Today we have questions from three listeners, so we are talking about 

1. urine scald, 
2. does in heat, and 
3. what you may want to have in your goat medicine cabinet. Remember that I am not a vet, and that this information is provided for educational purposes only. I'm talking about why people may have specific items in their medicine cabinet and what they may be used for. 

For more information on topics I discuss in this episode, check out these links:

• Copper Oxide as a Dewormer -- podcast
• Using Dewormers Correctly -- podcast
• Roundworms in Goats -- podcast
• Dewormer Resistance in Goats -- article

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/listener-qa-your-goat-medicine-cabinet/

To see the most recent episodes, visit FortheLoveofGoats.com

Today's episode was sponsored by Standlee Premium Western Forage, which makes my favorite alfalfa pellets and timothy hay pellets!

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

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Whether you are facing resistance to chemical dewormers, or whether you prefer to use more natural remedies, copper oxide wire particles may be helpful in the fight against barber pole worm (haemonchus contortus) in goats and sheep. Joan Burke, Ph.D., has been studying the effects of copper oxide and other alternative dewormers on intestinal worms since the early 2000s. She has had multiple studies published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Veterinary Parasitology. In this episode, Dr. Burke talks about using copper oxide in goats, as well as her research on herbal dewormers.

Dr. Burke is also a member of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control, where you can find links to more than a decade's worth of studies done on worms in goats, sheep, and camelids.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/copper-oxide-as-a-dewormer/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Got a question? 🤔  Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-canada/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 

Description

In this episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Mallory Kaiser, president of the Alberta Goat Association and vice chair of the Canadian National Goat Federation. Mallory shares insights into the goat industry in Canada, including available breeds, import/export challenges, traceability regulations, and the demand for goat products. Whether you're curious about how goat farming differs in Canada or considering expanding your own herd, this episode is packed with valuable information.

Key Takeaways:

• Canada has a strong demand for goat meat, but local production struggles to meet consumer needs.
• Strict import regulations limit genetic diversity, making it difficult to bring in new bloodlines from the U.S. or Europe.
• New traceability requirements could open doors for better disease monitoring but are met with resistance from producers.
• Goat farming in Canada comes with unique challenges, from frigid temperatures to predator threats, requiring strategic planning and infrastructure.
• The future of goat farming in Canada depends on better regulation, improved record-keeping, and stronger trade relations with the U.S.

Correction Notice:
In this episode (at 01:05), the guest mentioned that the Canadian Meat Goat Association is in the process of having Spanish goats recognized as a designated breed in Canada. This was incorrect. The correct information is that the Canadian Meat Goat Association is working on having Savannah goats registered in Canada, not Spanish 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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Many people who have owned pet dogs assume that they know all about choosing, buying, and training dogs, but livestock guardian dogs are a completely different animal. In this episode we are talking about those differences with Bill Costanzo from Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in San Angelo.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/livestock-guardian-dogs/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis, usually referred to as CAE, is a disease unique the goats and sheep, which has no cure. It spreads easily because goats in the early stages of the disease have no symptoms, and some may remain symptomatic forever. In the 1970s, it was discovered that most goat herds in the United States and many other countries had multiple goats that were infected.

Since the disease is spread by bodily fluids, including blood, milk, and mucus, it is easy to control the disease when you know a goat is infected. After decades of taking kids away from their dams at birth, the number of goats with CAE has decreased dramatically. However, with the increase in the popularity of goats, I am hearing of more and more cases of CAE in the US.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Sandra Baxendell, a goat vet in Australia, who talks about how her country has started to bring the disease under control, as well as how other countries have eradicated it completely.

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/working-to-eradicate-cae/

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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐 

Have you thought about renting out a room or a small cottage or cabin on your farm through Airbnb? Meet Tammy Gallagher of Texas who has done just that! In this episode, she talks about why they opened up their farm to guests and exactly how that works with her goats and other livestock.

Shady Paddock Farm - Willow House

Full show notes here --- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/airbnb-with-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 tuning in!

If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.

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.

🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership

🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy

🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.

Happy goat-keeping! 🐐