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Have you been considering getting a guard llama for your herd? You may have many questions such as: where can I find a good guard llama? How much should I expect to pay? Are there traits I should look for? What about the importance of age and the castration status for males?

In this episode, Deborah is talking to Carol Reigh of Buck Hollow Llamas, an expert who has been raising and breeding llamas for 27 years and selling guard llamas for around 20 years. Listen in as she offers sage advice on choosing a good guard llama, identifying behavioral problems you should watch out for and what can lead to them, how to introduce your new guard to your herd, and why you should always avoid purchasing llamas from auctions. Plus, learn about Berserk Male Syndrome and why bottle-fed llamas could be dangerous.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/guardian-llamas/

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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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

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Goat owners should be well-versed in the art of the FAMACHA check. We know that bright red mucous membranes of the eyes are a good sign while pale or white mucous membranes could indicate a heavy parasite load and anemia. But if your goat is anemic, outside of administering a dewormer, should you offer additional treatment? Did you know that your goat may also be anemic from causes other than a heavy parasite load?

In this episode, we are joined again by Dr. Robert Van Saun, professor of veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University and a specialist in ruminant nutrition. Dr. Van Saun covers various other ailments that could lead to anemia in your goat. He also discusses those oral iron supplements and the science behind whether or not they are actually effective in treating an anemic animal. Plus, should you be worried about anemia if your goat eats kale?

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anemia-in-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

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Does attempting to select the right minerals for your herd make your head spin? Do you know which three minerals are the primary keys to your herd’s health? How about the proper levels that should be included in a good mineral? Is there an easy way to know that the mineral you selected is appropriate and worth your money?

In this episode, I cover the nutrients that goats are most likely to become deficient in and what you should look for when shopping for a great loose mineral. I also touch on mineral antagonists and how balance really is key in your nutritional program. Stop throwing your money away buying minerals that are mostly salt. Learn the whats, whys, and hows for choosing a good mineral.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-goat-mineral/

To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

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Welcome to the world of showing goats! Have you ever dreamed of picking the perfect breeding pair that produces such a successful combination of genetics that you wind up with a doe that wins the title of Grand Champion at the National Show? It is likely that more than a few of us have, and the reality is, with the right education on goat conformation and breed standards coupled with an exacting eye, it is possible to produce that winning goat.

In today’s episode, we are talking to Ed Jodlowski, the breeder and owner of this year’s ADGA Grand National Champion doe. He is also the owner of Kickapoo Valley Dairy Goats and the current president of the American Dairy Goat Association. Having personal experience with all dairy goat breeds except Guernseys, Ed tells the story of the evolution of his own winning herd, and whether luck, skill, or both played into his success.

He also fills us in on the pros of being a judge in the show ring, confirms the significant benefit of attending goat shows now even if you aren’t yet ready to show your own goats, and shares his surprising plans for the future.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/champion-goats/
To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

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If you’ve ever wondered about the importance of forage and hay testing to ensure your herd is receiving maximum nutrition, today’s episode will provide you with lots of valuable information. We are talking to Cassy Streeter, an expert in near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) who directs Dairy One’s NIR affiliate network of more than 30 members in 16 countries. She also holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in animal science from Cornell University.

Understanding hay quality can help you optimize animal nutrition and productivity, whether you’re raising goats for meat, dairy, or both. Forage testing can be a component in balancing and managing your herd’s nutrition, and even keep you from spending money on unnecessary supplements or expensive feeds.

Wading into the world of hay testing can feel overwhelming. Cassy clarifies the entire process–from collecting a sample, choosing which test best fits your needs, how to send your samples to the lab, and what to do with your results once you receive them.

Cassy also offers some great advice on accessing hay bale corers, also known as hay probes, for sample collection without having to make a costly investment. More importantly, she outlines how to use them correctly. She also pulls back the curtain on how forage testers process and analyze hay samples for accurate results.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hay-testing/

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 listening!

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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

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In this bonus episode with Dr. Woody Lane, a livestock nutritionist and forage specialist and consultant, who's the owner of Lane Livestock Services and the author of three books on forages, grazing, soils, and livestock nutrition, we are tackling some great questions submitted by several Goats 365 members.

Dr. Lane addresses warm season grasses–great for warmer climates–and the unique biochemical makeup that differentiates them from cool season grasses. He also gives important management advice that could prevent your animals from being sickened by the toxic compounds found in sorghum sudangrass and some tall fescue. He also answers the question we all want to know: “What is the best kind of pasture for goats so you can stop worrying about them dying?”

This the second half of Dr. Lane’s awesome interview which lasted more than an hour. If you haven’t yet heard the first half, be sure to listen in as Dr. Lane covers the four basic principles of good grazing, offers a practical way to measure how many goats per acre your pasture can support, and explains the amazing function of a rumen.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-grasses/

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 listening!

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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

Send us a text

It can be a seemingly insurmountable challenge to balance the grazing needs of your herd with the necessity to maintain pasture and forage growth. If only there was a formula to strike that perfect balance between allowing your goats to get the nutrition they need while sustaining plant growth for future grazing. We have good news! There is a clear path to harmony when it comes to grazing.

Today, we’re talking to Dr. Woody Lane, a livestock nutritionist and forage specialist and consultant, who's the owner of Lane Livestock Services and the author of three books on forages, grazing, soils, and livestock nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Lane delves into the world of management intensive grazing, a nuanced extension of rotational grazing.

Dr. Lane details the four basic principles you need to implement in order to get the most out of your forage growth and grazing. He also tackles the common question “how many goats per acre?” with a simple, yet brilliant, task you can perform to answer that question with precision for your specific land and herd. As a bonus, Dr. Lane reveals the reason it has been such a challenge to comfortably address that question in the past.

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/good-pasture/

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

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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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.

Send us a text

Herd shares are often considered to be a sneaky way to circumvent state laws prohibiting the sale of raw milk. But did you know that herd shares themselves are not legal in all 50 states? In addition, there is far more nuance to the endeavor than simply selling shares in your herd–both in terms of legalities and liabilities.

Today, we’re talking to Alexia Kulwiec, an attorney and Executive Director of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. In this episode, Alexia discusses how herd shares work, the general nuances of state laws regarding herd shares, what a sufficient herd share contract should contain, and, most importantly, the steps you as the producer can take to protect yourself from legal issues.

She also touches on the Raw Milk Nation interactive map found on the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s website and reveals why maps like this are far from the end-all-be-all when it comes to determining if raw milk sales or herd shares are legal in your state.


See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/herd-shares/

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 listening!

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. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Or see my other goat courses in Thrifty Homesteader Academy.