Losing an animal to a predator is every goat owner's worst nightmare. When it does happen, you want to know who did it and stop them from doing it again. But figuring out whodunnit can often be a challenge. It this episode, we are talking to Gowan Batist, co-existence programs manager of the Mountain Lion Foundation. She is also a regenerative sheep rancher, hand-shearer, wool spinner, writer, and dog enthusiast who grew up outdoors with wildlife in Northern California and is committed to fostering a land stewardship ethic that increases and preserves biodiversity for future generations.This episode is the wildlife edition of CSI as Gowan talks about how she helps farmers and ranchers figure out what predator killed their livestock and how to stop them. We also talk about the role that predators play in a healthy ecosystem.Gowan talks about how and why different predators, including coyotes, lions, bears, and even birds and domestic dogs, kill goats and other livestock. She also talks about how different deterrents work for some predators and not others.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-predators/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love? Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

Losing an animal to a predator is every goat owner's worst nightmare. When it does happen, you want to know who did it and stop them from doing it again. But figuring out whodunnit can often be a challenge. It this episode, we are talking to Gowan Batist, co-existence programs manager of the Mountain Lion Foundation. She is also a regenerative sheep rancher, hand-shearer, wool spinner, writer, and dog enthusiast who grew up outdoors with wildlife in Northern California and is committed to fostering a land stewardship ethic that increases and preserves biodiversity for future generations. This episode is the wildlife edition of CSI as Gowan talks about how she helps farmers and ranchers figure out what predator killed their livestock and how to stop them. We also talk about the role that predators play in a healthy ecosystem. Gowan talks about how and why different predators, including coyotes, lions, bears, and even birds and domestic dogs, kill goats and other livestock. She also talks about how different deterrents work for some predators and not others. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-predators/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-predators/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a> 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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Goat Predators: What Killed My Goat?

A couple of months ago, we had a Facebook post that elicited a lot of very passionate responses and also uncovered a lot of myths and misinformation about worms in goats.In today's episode we are talking about many of the comments that were made on that post and explaining what current research says specifically about goat worms, which are different from worms in other species like dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and even cattle. We are joined by Dr. Michael Pesato, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners specializing in Food Animal Practice. He most recently served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Mississippi State University. We start by explaining what "smart deworming" means and what it does not mean, and what really causes dewormer resistance. We also talk about what fecals can and cannot tell you about the worms your goat may have.Dr. Pesato gets into the nitty gritty of why we should never use the calendar as a tool for deworming, whether you are talking about deworming in a specific month, every X number of months, or X numbers of days after the last deworming. These are all old practices that were not based on research. We also discuss when and where eggs hatch and how larvae mature, which is not commonly known. In addition to a thorough explanation of goat worms, we also talk about continuing education for veterinarians and why you can't trust Google to give you the latest information on worms. For additional information, check out our podcast episodes on Using Deworming Correctly (Episode 24) and New Guidelines for Using Dewormers in Goats (Episode 68).See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-worm-myths-and-misunderstandings/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

A couple of months ago, we had a Facebook post that elicited a lot of very passionate responses and also uncovered a lot of myths and misinformation about worms in goats. In today's episode we are talking about many of the comments that were made on that post and explaining what current research says specifically about goat worms, which are different from worms in other species like dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and even cattle. We are joined by Dr. Michael Pesato, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners specializing in Food Animal Practice. He most recently served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Mississippi State University. We start by explaining what "smart deworming" means and what it does not mean, and what really causes dewormer resistance. We also talk about what fecals can and cannot tell you about the worms your goat may have. Dr. Pesato gets into the nitty gritty of why we should never use the calendar as a tool for deworming, whether you are talking about deworming in a specific month, every X number of months, or X numbers of days after the last deworming. These are all old practices that were not based on research. We also discuss when and where eggs hatch and how larvae mature, which is not commonly known. In addition to a thorough explanation of goat worms, we also talk about continuing education for veterinarians and why you can't trust Google to give you the latest information on worms. For additional information, check out our podcast episodes on <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/using-dewormers-correctly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Using Deworming Correctly</a> (Episode 24) and <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-dewormers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Guidelines for Using Dewormers in Goats </a>(Episode 68). See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href=" https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-worm-myths-and-misunderstandings/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-worm-myths-and-misunderstandings/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a> 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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Goat Worms: Myths and Misunderstandings

Rotational grazing is the key to parasite control. After all, if you limit infection of your goats, you limit the potential for them to become severely parasitized. But there is more to rotational grazing than simply dividing up your pasture by a magic number.Heather Glennon, Associate Professor of Animal Science at University of Mount Olive and goat owner, is talking about pasture management for parasite control in this episode.She explains how different species of grasses have different ideal grazing heights, as well as how you can use annual forages and browse in your parasite control program. We also had a great discussion about forages rich in condensed tannins, and I realized why the chicory in my pasture might not have as much effect on parasites as sericea lespedeza.You'll learn how you can improve your forage quality to make it more nutritious for your goats and help them be more parasite resilient. We also discuss the role that other livestock and harvesting hay can play in cleaning up your pasture and reducing the parasite load.If you have questions, Heather can be reached via email.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-management-for-parasite-control/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

<a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/rotational-grazing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotational grazing</a> is the key to parasite control. After all, if you limit infection of your goats, you limit the potential for them to become severely parasitized. But there is more to rotational grazing than simply dividing up your pasture by a magic number. Heather Glennon, Associate Professor of Animal Science at University of Mount Olive and goat owner, is talking about pasture management for parasite control in this episode. She explains how different species of grasses have different ideal grazing heights, as well as how you can use annual forages and browse in your parasite control program. We also had a great discussion about forages rich in condensed tannins, and I realized why the chicory in my pasture might not have as much effect on parasites as <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/natural-parasite-control-with-lespedeza/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sericea lespedeza</a>. You'll learn how you can improve your forage quality to make it more nutritious for your goats and <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-worms/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">help them be more parasite resilient</a>. We also discuss the role that other livestock and harvesting hay can play in cleaning up your pasture and reducing the parasite load. If you have questions, Heather can be reached via email. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-management-for-parasite-control/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-management-for-parasite-control/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Pasture Management for Parasite Control

New restrictions on over-the-counter antibiotics used in livestock will start in June 2023. Until now, anyone could walk into a farm store and buy penicillins, sulfa drugs, and other antibiotics without a prescription, but that's about to change.In this episode, we talk to Kevin D. Pelzer, DVM, MPVM, a Professor, Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, about how these changes will impact goat owners and what they must do to prepare.The first thing to know is that it won't affect drugs used only in veterinary medicine, such as amprolium, used to treat coccidiosis in goats. It only affects antibiotics that are also used in human medicine. Dr. Pelzer lists all of the antibiotics that are being included in the new directive.We also talk about why having over-the-counter antibiotics was not the best idea to begin with. Although it allows owners to treat quickly, they may not always use the correct antibiotic because different drugs work on different organisms. So, you can't simply have a bottle of penicillin or a sulfa drug in your cabinet and assume that one antibiotic is going to treat anything that pops up.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/antibiotics-for-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

New restrictions on over-the-counter antibiotics used in livestock will start in June 2023. Until now, anyone could walk into a farm store and buy penicillins, sulfa drugs, and other antibiotics without a prescription, but that's about to change. In this episode, we talk to Kevin D. Pelzer, DVM, MPVM, a Professor, Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, about how these changes will impact goat owners and what they must do to prepare. The first thing to know is that it won't affect drugs used only in veterinary medicine, such as amprolium, used to treat coccidiosis in goats. It only affects antibiotics that are also used in human medicine. Dr. Pelzer lists all of the antibiotics that are being included in the new directive. We also talk about why having over-the-counter antibiotics was not the best idea to begin with. Although it allows owners to treat quickly, they may not always use the correct antibiotic because different drugs work on different organisms. So, you can't simply have a bottle of penicillin or a sulfa drug in your cabinet and assume that one antibiotic is going to treat anything that pops up. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/antibiotics-for-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/antibiotics-for-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Antibiotics for Goats: Availability and Usage

It can be scary for a goat owner to see something bulging from the vulva of a pregnant goat days or even weeks before the doe is due.In today's episode, we are talking to Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, about what causes vaginal prolapses, the different levels of vaginal prolapse in goats, when to use a prolapse retainer, and when to call the vet.Dr. Stewart also talks about the difference between a vaginal prolapse and a uterine prolapse, including when you can wait and watch — and when you have an emergency situation.And finally, we talk about the genetics involved and when it's a good idea to stop breeding a doe.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaginal-prolapse-in-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

It can be scary for a goat owner to see something bulging from the vulva of a pregnant goat days or even weeks before the doe is due. In today's episode, we are talking to Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, about what causes vaginal prolapses, the different levels of vaginal prolapse in goats, when to use a prolapse retainer, and when to call the vet. Dr. Stewart also talks about the difference between a vaginal prolapse and a uterine prolapse, including when you can wait and watch — and when you have an emergency situation. And finally, we talk about the genetics involved and when it's a good idea to stop <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/breeding-season/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">breeding</a> a doe. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaginal-prolapse-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaginal-prolapse-in-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Vaginal Prolapse in Pregnant Goats

If you are raising goats for meat or other products, marketing is a big part of a successful business.In today's episode, we are talking to Leslie Svacina, owner of Cylon Rolling Acres, about what they do to market their goat meat.Luckily Leslie had a background in marketing before they started their goat farm. She gives you a timeline of how they got started selling live animals and delivering them to the locker and then moving on to selling individual cuts, as well as how they sold through a food hub.Now they have online sales, including a "farm club" subscription, which is similar to a CSA. Leslie talks about packaging and labeling for their retail products.You'll also hear how they use social media and SEO to drive traffic to their website. And if you don't know what to share on social media or in your farm newsletter, Leslie talks about that too!See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/marketing-goat-meat/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

If you are <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/meat-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">raising goats for meat</a> or other products, marketing is a big part of a successful business. In today's episode, we are talking to Leslie Svacina, owner of Cylon Rolling Acres, about what they do to market their goat meat. Luckily Leslie had a background in marketing before they started their goat farm. She gives you a timeline of how they got started selling live animals and delivering them to the locker and then moving on to selling individual cuts, as well as how they sold through a food hub. Now they have online sales, including a "farm club" subscription, which is similar to a CSA. Leslie talks about packaging and labeling for their retail products. You'll also hear how they use social media and SEO to drive traffic to their website. And if you don't know what to share on social media or in your farm newsletter, Leslie talks about that too! See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/marketing-goat-meat/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/marketing-goat-meat/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love?Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Marketing Goat Meat: Tips for Selling to Consumers

Whenever a goat dies, we always want to know why. But the only way to know for sure is to get a necropsy, and that's what we're talking about in this episode.I was convinced of the importance of necropsies after owning goats for only five years when a seemingly healthy doe suddenly started screaming and was dead an hour later. Without the necropsy, we never would have known that she had died from Tyzzer's disease, which is not normally seen in goats.Dr. Jonathan Samuelson, Clinical Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about what a necropsy is, what it can tell us, and what it can't.We talk about gross necropsy, histopathology, electron microscopy, and other aspects of a necropsy that can tell us why our goat died about 85% of the time, according to Dr. Samuelson. But even if the necropsy can't pinpoint the exact cause of death, it can rule out causes, which can also be helpful.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-necropsy/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

Whenever a goat dies, we always want to know why. But the only way to know for sure is to get a necropsy, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. I was convinced of the importance of necropsies after owning goats for only five years when a seemingly healthy doe suddenly started screaming and was dead an hour later. Without the necropsy, we never would have known that she had died from Tyzzer's disease, which is not normally seen in goats. Dr. Jonathan Samuelson, Clinical Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about what a necropsy is, what it can tell us, and what it can't. We talk about gross necropsy, histopathology, electron microscopy, and other aspects of a necropsy that can tell us why our goat died about 85% of the time, according to Dr. Samuelson. But even if the necropsy can't pinpoint the exact cause of death, it can rule out causes, which can also be helpful. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-necropsy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-necropsy/ </a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Goat Necropsy: Why did my goat die?

All these years I thought we were just lucky to have never had a case of hoof rot in our goats, but in today's episode, I learned that luck has nothing to do with it.Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Professor of Production Management Medicine at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, talks about the bacteria that cause hoof rot and hoof scald in goats, how you know your goat has one or the other, as well as the treatment.We also talk about the prevention of hoof rot, which boils down to good biosecurity, and prevention of hoof scald, which means keeping your goats on dry ground.We also talk about laminitis, also called founder, and what causes it, as well as the treatment.Dr. Pelzer also gives us some bonus tips towards the end on how we can reduce the amount of time we have to spend trimming hooves.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hoof-rot-in-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

All these years I thought we were just lucky to have never had a case of hoof rot in our goats, but in today's episode, I learned that luck has nothing to do with it. Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Professor of Production Management Medicine at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, talks about the bacteria that cause hoof rot and hoof scald in goats, how you know your goat has one or the other, as well as the treatment. We also talk about the prevention of hoof rot, which boils down to <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/avoiding-diseases-with-a-biosecurity-plan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">good biosecurity</a>, and prevention of hoof scald, which means keeping your goats on dry ground. We also talk about laminitis, also called founder, and what causes it, as well as the treatment. Dr. Pelzer also gives us some bonus tips towards the end on how we can reduce the amount of time we have to spend trimming hooves. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hoof-rot-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hoof-rot-in-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Hoof Rot in Goats

Although it is a fairly common practice for goat owners to treat anemic animals with Red Cell after deworming, there had not been any research on whether it was helpful — until now.Today's guest, Joan Burke, PhD, Research Animal Scientist at the USDA, ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, is one of the co-authors on a study that looked at whether using Red Cell could help an anemic goat or sheep recover more quickly after being treated with a dewormer.Dr. Burke talks about the 4 different experiments that were done, using different dewormers, with and without Red Cell. She talks about how much Red Cell was used and the effect on the animals' packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg count (FEC) after one week and two weeks.We also get into a similar study that was done using injectable iron, and she even gives you a bonus tip at the end on treating strogyloides (threadworm).See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/red-cell-for-goats/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comWant to support the content you love?Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jarThanks 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. 

Although it is a fairly common practice for goat owners to treat anemic animals with Red Cell after deworming, there had not been any research on whether it was helpful — until now. Today's guest, Joan Burke, PhD, Research Animal Scientist at the USDA, ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, is one of the co-authors on a study that looked at whether using Red Cell could help an anemic goat or sheep recover more quickly after being treated with a dewormer. Dr. Burke talks about the 4 different experiments that were done, using different dewormers, with and without Red Cell. She talks about how much Red Cell was used and the effect on the animals' packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg count (FEC) after one week and two weeks. We also get into a similar study that was done using injectable iron, and she even gives you a bonus tip at the end on treating strogyloides (threadworm). See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/red-cell-for-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/red-cell-for-goats/ </a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- <a href="https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar</a> 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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Red Cell for Goats: Study Examines Its Effectiveness

Almost everyone has a tetanus shot to protect us from a deadly disease that can be transmitted from an injury that breaks through the skin.Although some animals are not as susceptible to tetanus, such as dogs and cats, goats can get tetanus. Like humans, which have been protected by the vaccine since the first world war, goats can also be protected from tetanus by a vaccine.In this episode, which is sponsored by Colorado Serum, we are joined by Dr. Randy Berrier, Staff Veterinarian and Senior Vice President of Colorado Serum, which makes tetanus toxoid and antitoxin, as well as the CDT vaccine, which includes tetanus toxoid.We are talking about how the disease is transmitted, what the symptoms are, as well as the prognosis once an animal is infected.Dr. Berrier discusses the differences between the toxoid and the antitoxin and when it's appropriate to give each one, as well as how adding the enterotoxemia vaccine to CDT affects the timing of boosters.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/tetanus-in-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

Almost everyone has a tetanus shot to protect us from a deadly disease that can be transmitted from an injury that breaks through the skin. Although some animals are not as susceptible to tetanus, such as dogs and cats, goats can get tetanus. Like humans, which have been protected by the vaccine since the first world war, goats can also be protected from tetanus by a <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaccines-for-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vaccine</a>. In this episode, which is sponsored by <a href="https://colorado-serum-com.3dcartstores.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colorado Serum</a>, we are joined by Dr. Randy Berrier, Staff Veterinarian and Senior Vice President of Colorado Serum, which makes tetanus toxoid and antitoxin, as well as the CDT vaccine, which includes tetanus toxoid. We are talking about how the disease is transmitted, what the symptoms are, as well as the prognosis once an animal is infected. Dr. Berrier discusses the differences between the toxoid and the antitoxin and when it's appropriate to give each one, as well as how adding the enterotoxemia vaccine to CDT affects the timing of boosters. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/tetanus-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/tetanus-in-goats/</a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Tetanus in Goats: Transmission, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis

We are talking about everything goats! Whether you're an owner, a breeder, or just a fan of these wonderful creatures, we've got you covered. Join host and author Deborah Niemann as she interviews experts and goat lovers so we can all learn more about how to improve the health and production of our goats, improve our relationships, and possibly even start a goat business.

Not only is a goat placenta very different from a human or horse placenta but how it functions is also different, as well as how it should be managed after birth.In this episode, we are talking to Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, about what the placenta does and how it functions in goats. Like all ruminant placentas, it is actually a big blanket of membranes and cotyledons, which is why it usually takes at least two hours after birth to be expelled but can take longer and is not cause for concern.We talk about what to do in case of retained placenta, including what does not work (although it is frequently attempted) and what you should never do because it will actually make the problem worse and could even cause death.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-placenta/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

Not only is a goat placenta very different from a human or horse placenta but how it functions is also different, as well as how it should be managed after birth.In this episode, we are talking to Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, about what the placenta does and how it functions in goats. Like all ruminant placentas, it is actually a big blanket of membranes and cotyledons, which is why it usually takes at least two hours after birth to be expelled but can take longer and is not cause for concern.We talk about what to do in case of retained placenta, including what does not work (although it is frequently attempted) and what you should never do because it will actually make the problem worse and could even cause death. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-placenta/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-placenta/</a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Goat Placenta: Understanding Its Function and Management

If you only have a few does to breed each year, it might seem like a waste to own your buck. But even if you have a buck, who do you breed his daughters to? One option is artificial insemination, but another option is to co-own a buck.Although I had heard of two people co-owning a goat before, I had never heard of four until I met today's guests when we were recording last week's episode on Pygmy goats.Gary and Karole Miller of Fox Haven Pygmy Goats, Andrea Pursley of High Caliber Pygmy Goats, and Diane Keith of Fair View and Shasta View are co-owners of Flying Turtle's Gather Gotta Get Away, who is more commonly known as Mick.In this episode, they tell us Mick's story on the road to becoming the National Champion and how they share ownership of him, from where he lives to where he goes to shows.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/co-owning-a-goat/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

If you only have a few does to breed each year, it might seem like a waste to own your buck. But even if you have a buck, who do you breed his daughters to? One option is <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/artificial-insemination-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">artificial insemination</a>, but another option is to co-own a buck. Although I had heard of two people co-owning a goat before, I had never heard of four until I met today's guests when we were recording last week's episode on <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pygmy goats</a>. Gary and Karole Miller of Fox Haven Pygmy Goats, Andrea Pursley of High Caliber Pygmy Goats, and Diane Keith of Fair View and Shasta View are co-owners of Flying Turtle's Gather Gotta Get Away, who is more commonly known as Mick.In this episode, they tell us Mick's story on the road to becoming the National Champion and how they share ownership of him, from where he lives to where he goes to shows. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/co-owning-a-goat/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/co-owning-a-goat/</a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Co-Owning a Goat

As a Nigerian dwarf breeder myself, I am acutely aware of how many people think that "pygmy" is a size, not a breed of goat. In this episode, we are talking to four National Champion Pygmy breeders about what exactly makes a Pygmy goat.Pygmy breeders Karole and Gary Miller of Fox Haven Pygmy Goats, Andrea Pursley of High Caliber Pygmy Goats and Diane Keith of Fair View and Shasta View, talk about the breed standard, what it takes to register a Pygmy goat, and what the judge is looking for in the show ring. Unlike Nigerian dwarf goats, which can be any color or pattern, Pygmies have very strict color requirements in both coat and eye color. Our guests also talk about the difference in the body type between Pygmies and Nigerians and the historical use of Pygmy goats. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comhttps://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/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. 

As a Nigerian dwarf breeder myself, I am acutely aware of how many people think that "pygmy" is a size, not a breed of goat. In this episode, we are talking to four National Champion Pygmy breeders about what exactly makes a Pygmy goat. Pygmy breeders Karole and Gary Miller of Fox Haven Pygmy Goats, Andrea Pursley of High Caliber Pygmy Goats and Diane Keith of Fair View and Shasta View, talk about the breed standard, what it takes to register a Pygmy goat, and what the judge is looking for in the show ring. Unlike Nigerian dwarf goats, which can be any color or pattern, Pygmies have very strict color requirements in both coat and eye color. Our guests also talk about the difference in the body type between Pygmies and Nigerians and the historical use of Pygmy goats. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/</a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a><a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pygmy-goats/</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Pygmy Goats

At one time or another, every goat owner will probably be faced with external parasites on their goats, which usually means lice or mites.Dr. Michael Pesato, Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Mississippi State University, joins us to talk about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of mites and lice in goats.While lice in goats are very common, and can be seen with the naked eye, mites are microscopic and thankfully not so common.We are also busting myths about external parasites, such as goats getting mites or lice from fresh bales of straw or hay. And we talk about why diatomaceous earth does not kill goat lice although it can kill chicken lice.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/external-parasites-in-goats/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

At one time or another, every goat owner will probably be faced with external parasites on their goats, which usually means lice or <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mites-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mites</a>. Dr. Michael Pesato, Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Mississippi State University, joins us to talk about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of mites and lice in goats. While lice in goats are very common, and can be seen with the naked eye, mites are microscopic and thankfully not so common. We are also busting myths about external parasites, such as goats getting mites or lice from fresh bales of straw or hay. And we talk about why diatomaceous earth does not kill goat lice although it can kill chicken lice. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/external-parasites-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/external-parasites-in-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

External Parasites in Goats

If you think a Nigerian dwarf goat is too small and standard sized dairy goats are too big, then mini dairy goats will meet your needs perfectly. Miniature dairy goats are a hybrid that starts with a Nigerian dwarf buck and a standard size dairy goat, such as a Nubian, LaMancha, Saanen, or any of the standard dairy goat breeds. In today's episode, Dee Daniels, president of the Miniature Dairy Goat Association and the Milk Committee Chairperson, talks about these little powerhouse milk goats. We talk about the breed standards for the various mini dairy goats, including how you get those famous little LaMancha ears and Nubian ears, as well as the best miniature milk goat. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mini-dairy-goats/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

If you think a Nigerian dwarf goat is too small and standard sized dairy goats are too big, then mini dairy goats will meet your needs perfectly. Miniature dairy goats are a hybrid that starts with a Nigerian dwarf buck and a standard size dairy goat, such as a Nubian, LaMancha, Saanen, or any of the standard dairy goat breeds. In today's episode, Dee Daniels, president of the Miniature Dairy Goat Association and the Milk Committee Chairperson, talks about these little powerhouse milk goats. We talk about the breed standards for the various mini dairy goats, including how you get those famous little LaMancha ears and Nubian ears, as well as the best miniature milk goat. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mini-dairy-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mini-dairy-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Mini Dairy Goats

If you don't have a veterinarian in your area who sees goats, you can take them to a veterinary teaching hospital. Many people don't realize they are open to the public and even have emergency services 24/7. In this episode, goat breeder Tammy Gallagher and I talk about our experiences utilizing veterinary teaching hospitals at Texas A&amp;M and University of Illinois. Even though we both went there initially because of their emergency services, we have now become huge fans. Since Tammy is close enough to Texas A&amp;M, she has also utilized their field services team where vets and students come to the farm to do routine herd assessments and other veterinary care.In addition to access to 24-hour service, we also talk about having a diagnostic lab on site, as well as specialists in reproduction, surgery, dermatology, and more. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-and-university-vet-hospitals/ To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

If you don't have a veterinarian in your area who sees goats, you can take them to a veterinary teaching hospital. Many people don't realize they are open to the public and even have emergency services 24/7. In this episode, goat breeder Tammy Gallagher and I talk about our experiences utilizing veterinary teaching hospitals at Texas A&amp;M and University of Illinois. Even though we both went there initially because of their emergency services, we have now become huge fans. Since Tammy is close enough to Texas A&amp;M, she has also utilized their field services team where vets and students come to the farm to do routine herd assessments and other veterinary care. In addition to access to 24-hour service, we also talk about having a diagnostic lab on site, as well as specialists in reproduction, surgery, dermatology, and more. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-and-university-vet-hospitals/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-and-university-vet-hospitals/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Goats and University Vet Hospitals

If you had a doe with mastitis, a kid with stiff joints, and another kid with pneumonia, would you ever assume that all three were infected with the same disease? If mycoplasma is in your herd, it could cause all of these seemingly unrelated illnesses.In this episode, Dr. Claire Burbick of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory talks about this fascinating disease that can cause a wide variety of symptoms, is challenging to diagnose, and equally challenging to treat.Dr. Burbick talks about why penicillin does not work for mycoplasma, as well as how ear mites can transmit the bacteria between goats, in addition to other methods of transmission.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mycoplasma-in-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

If you had a doe with mastitis, a kid with stiff joints, and another kid with pneumonia, would you ever assume that all three were infected with the same disease? If mycoplasma is in your herd, it could cause all of these seemingly unrelated illnesses. In this episode, Dr. Claire Burbick of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory talks about this fascinating disease that can cause a wide variety of symptoms, is challenging to diagnose, and equally challenging to treat. Dr. Burbick talks about why penicillin does not work for mycoplasma, as well as how ear mites can transmit the bacteria between goats, in addition to other methods of transmission. See full show notes here &gt;&gt;<a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mycoplasma-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/mycoplasma-in-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Mycoplasma in Goats

If you have a worm problem with your goats, and rotational grazing is not an option, we now have a new tool that can be helpful in breaking the life cycle of the worms. Bioworma came on the market in the U.S. in 2018 and is available through Premier 1 Supplies.BioWorma is not just another chemical dewormer, which worms can become resistant to. It’s Duddingtonia flagrans, a natural fungus that eats the worm larvae in manure. Fungal spores are added to the livestock feed and go through the animal’s digestive tract unchanged.After the manure lands in the pasture, the fungus goes to work eating the larvae as the eggs hatch in the manure. This breaks the life cycle of the roundworm, which gets out of control because animals are continually re-ingesting larvae from the pasture. (That’s why pasture rotation is so important.) In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of worms on a farm are actually in the pasture rather than inside animals.In this episode, which is sponsored by Premier 1 Supplies, we are talking to Dan Morrical, one of the "Ask an Expert" specialists at Premier 1.Because this fungus is a very picky eater, you don’t have to worry about it upsetting the balance of anything else in the environment, such as earthworms or soil nematodes. The fungus only consumes roundworm larvae in manure of grazing animals, so it won’t work with poultry. Since it is eating the larvae, not killing them, it’s unlikely the larvae will become resistant to them the way they become resistant to chemical dewormers. (Has anything ever become resistant to being eaten?)It’s also important to understand that the fungus does not consume 100% of the larvae, so things like pasture rotation can still help. Animals have lived with parasites inside their bodies since the beginning of time, and it’s not an entirely bad thing. We just don’t want the worms to get out of control and make the animals sick, and that’s exactly what the research showed. The fungus reduced the worm load enough that animals did not need chemical deworming.This product won’t be for everyone, but I do see it as a lifesaver for those who are losing animals to worms because of dewormer resistance. In this episode we are talking about how to get started with Bioworma, as well as what works and what doesn't.See full show notes here &gt;&gt;https://thriftyhomesteader.com/bioworma/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

If you have a worm problem with your goats, and rotational grazing is not an option, we now have a new tool that can be helpful in breaking the life cycle of the worms. Bioworma came on the market in the U.S. in 2018 and is available through Premier 1 Supplies. BioWorma is not just another chemical dewormer, which worms can become resistant to. It’s Duddingtonia flagrans, a natural fungus that eats the worm larvae in manure. Fungal spores are added to the livestock feed and go through the animal’s digestive tract unchanged. After the manure lands in the pasture, the fungus goes to work eating the larvae as the eggs hatch in the manure. This breaks the life cycle of the roundworm, which gets out of control because animals are continually re-ingesting larvae from the pasture. (That’s why <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/rotational-grazing-3/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pasture rotation</a> is so important.) In fact, it is estimated that <a href="https://www.duddingtonia.com/articles/about-duddingtonia-flagrans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">90 percent of worms</a> on a farm are actually in the pasture rather than inside animals. In this episode, which is sponsored by <a href="https://www.premier1supplies.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Premier 1 Supplies</a>, we are talking to Dan Morrical, one of the "Ask an Expert" specialists at Premier 1. Because this fungus is a very picky eater, you don’t have to worry about it upsetting the balance of anything else in the environment, such as earthworms or soil nematodes. The fungus only consumes roundworm larvae in manure of grazing animals, so it won’t work with poultry. Since it is eating the larvae, not killing them, it’s unlikely the larvae will become resistant to them the way they become resistant to chemical dewormers. (Has anything ever become resistant to being eaten?) It’s also important to understand that the fungus does not consume 100% of the larvae, so things like pasture rotation can still help. Animals have lived with parasites inside their bodies since the beginning of time, and it’s not an entirely bad thing. We just don’t want the worms to get out of control and make the animals sick, and that’s exactly what the research showed. The fungus reduced the worm load enough that animals did not need chemical deworming. This product won’t be for everyone, but I do see it as a lifesaver for those who are losing animals to worms because of dewormer resistance. In this episode we are talking about how to get started with Bioworma, as well as what works and what doesn't. See full show notes here &gt;&gt;<a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/bioworma/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/bioworma/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

BioWorma for Goats

We have a lot of episodes on various diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, but rather than tell you to listen to all of those episodes to figure out which vaccines your goats might need, we decided to have an episode devoted to all the vaccines your goats need — as well as vaccines they probably don't need.Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, is talking about the CDT vaccine, which is for enterotoxemia type C and D, as well as tetanus, including dosages, timing, and frequency, including some that are off-label.He also talks about vaccines for campylobacter and chlamydia, which can cause abortions. Then we move on to vaccines for CL, sore mouth (orf), leptospirosis, pneumonia, rabies, and the new staph aureus vaccine for mastitis.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaccines-for-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

We have a lot of episodes on various diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, but rather than tell you to listen to all of those episodes to figure out which vaccines your goats might need, we decided to have an episode devoted to all the vaccines your goats need — as well as vaccines they probably don't need. Dr. Kevin Pelzer, Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, is talking about the CDT vaccine, which is for enterotoxemia type C and D, as well as tetanus, including dosages, timing, and frequency, including some that are off-label. He also talks about vaccines for campylobacter and chlamydia, which can cause abortions. Then we move on to vaccines for CL, sore mouth (orf), leptospirosis, pneumonia, rabies, and the new staph aureus vaccine for mastitis. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaccines-for-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/vaccines-for-goats/</a>To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a> 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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Vaccines for Goats

One of the most common questions I get during kidding season is, "why was this kid born dead?" Unfortunately, I can't answer that question because there are dozens of possibilities, starting with a long list of possible infections that can cause abortions, stillbirths, and neonatal death.As I was planning this episode with Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor in Production Management Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, I thought we'd discuss all the possible infectious causes of abortion, but when I opened just one veterinary textbook and looked at the possibilities, I realized there was no way we could cover all of them in a single episode.Dr. Stewart and I decided to cover the most common causes that she sees in practice, and I added the diseases that I get the most questions about.In this episode, we are talking about the causes, symptoms, and diagnoses of chlamydia, q-fever, campylobacter, toxoplasmosis, Cache Valley virus, the goat version of hairy shaker disease in lambs, blue tongue, brucellosis, mycoplasma, e. coli, and strep. We also cover transmission, prevention, and treatment.While some of these diseases will affect only a single goat, others can cause an abortion storm, affecting potentially every pregnant doe in your herd. This is why it is so important to get a proper diagnosis if you have more than one doe giving birth prematurely or to stillborn kids.See full show notes here &gt;&gt; https://thriftyhomesteader.com/miscarriages-in-goats/To see the most recent episodes, visit  ForTheLoveOfGoats.comThanks 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. 

One of the most common questions I get during kidding season is, "why was this kid born dead?" Unfortunately, I can't answer that question because there are dozens of possibilities, starting with a long list of possible infections that can cause abortions, stillbirths, and neonatal death. As I was planning this episode with Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor in Production Management Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, I thought we'd discuss all the possible infectious causes of abortion, but when I opened just one veterinary textbook and looked at the possibilities, I realized there was no way we could cover all of them in a single episode. Dr. Stewart and I decided to cover the most common causes that she sees in practice, and I added the diseases that I get the most questions about. In this episode, we are talking about the causes, symptoms, and diagnoses of chlamydia, <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/q-fever-and-coxiellosis-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">q-fever</a>, campylobacter, <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/barn-cats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">toxoplasmosis,</a> <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/cache-valley-virus/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cache Valley virus</a>, the goat version of hairy shaker disease in lambs, blue tongue, brucellosis, mycoplasma, e. coli, and strep. We also cover transmission, prevention, and treatment. While some of these diseases will affect only a single goat, others can cause an abortion storm, affecting potentially every pregnant doe in your herd. This is why it is so important to get a proper diagnosis if you have more than one doe giving birth prematurely or to stillborn kids. See full show notes here &gt;&gt; <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/miscarriages-in-goats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thriftyhomesteader.com/miscarriages-in-goats/</a> To see the most recent episodes, visit  <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.com/category/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ForTheLoveOfGoats.com</a>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. <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/p/goats-365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here</a> to learn more about our Goats 365 membership. Or see my other goat courses in <a href="https://thriftyhomesteader.teachable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrifty Homesteader Academy</a>.

Miscarriages in Goats Caused by Infections

I’ve raised goats for over 29 years but I learn new things on Deborah’s podcasts. I look forward to each new episode. Thanks!

Practical and interesting

You can never learn enough!  Deborah is very knowledgeable. I am so glad she is sharing her love of goats with everyone.

Never stop learning

For the Love of Goats

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