For the Love of Goats – Details, episodes & analysis

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! 🐐