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Whether you live in a suburban condo or on an off-grid farm, you can live a greener lifestyle. In the Sustainability Book Chat we talk to authors who can help you reach your goals to achieve a more self-reliant lifestyle, whether that means starting a container garden on your balcony or having chickens in your backyard or making greener transportation choices.
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For the Love of Goats

Deborah Niemann

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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. Happy anniversary to us! FTLOG is five years old! As we enter our sixth year, you can continue to expect to hear from mor ...
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Got a question or thought to share? 🤔💬 Head over to the blog post -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/building-a-pantry-from-scratch/ -- and drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think and we’ll be sure to reply! Description In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and the new follow-up, A…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/loss-of-a-beloved-goat-or-pet/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Losing a beloved animal—whether a goat, dog, cat, or any other companion—can be absolutely heartbreaking. In this episode of For the Love of Goats, I’m joined by Beth Bigler, a double-certified …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/from-lab-coat-to-cheesecloth/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! What happens when a medical career ends—but a passion for something totally different begins? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kandice Marchant, a retired physician who traded her lab coat for a cheeseclot…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-polio/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Goat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Meliss…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-canada/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Mallory Kaiser, president of the Alberta Goat Association and vice chair of the Canadian National Goat Federation. Mallory shares insights into the goat…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/dewormer-resistance-goat-owners-experience/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this insightful and eye-opening episode, host Deborah Niemann is joined by Tammy Gallagher of Shady Paddock Farm in Texas to discuss the challenges of dewormer resistance and parasi…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/americans-experience-with-goats-in-kenya/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this fascinating episode, Deborah Niemann sits down with Mark Hicks, an author and adventurer, to discuss his unforgettable experience with goats during a trip to Kenya. Mark’s journe…
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As goat owners, understanding diseases that can affect our herds is crucial for maintaining healthy animals and preventing the spread of illnesses. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Linda Detwiler, staff veterinarian on the sheep and goat health staff at the USDA APHIS Veterinary Service, to discuss scrapie, a neurological disease a…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hermaphroditism-freemartinism-goat-infertility/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description When our does have trouble conceiving, our minds often tend to go toward infectious causes. But there are non-infectious causes of infertility to consider as well. In this episode,…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/c-section-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the emotional and educational story of Caboose, the first goat on her farm to undergo a C-section. As part of the podcast’s fifth-anniversary celebration, Deborah …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/sharing-milk-with-baby-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description The answer to, “When can I start milking my doe?” is not as simple as listing the specific age of the kids. In this episode, we are discussing the complexities of sharing milk with baby goats and of…
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Happy anniversary to us! FTLOG is five years old! As we enter our sixth year, you can continue to count on us to help you cut through the clutter of conflicting information out there so that you can be confident that your goats will be living their best lives! You can expect to hear from more goat experts like veterinary professors and published sc…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/uterine-rupture-and-hemorrhage-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description In this deeply personal and emotional episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the heartbreaking story of her goat, Coco, who experienced a uterine rupture and hemorrhage during a challenging…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/raising-goats-in-australia/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description As goat owners in America, we know the challenges we face in caring for our herds here at home. But what is it like to breed and raise goats in another country? In this episode, Sue Ludwig and Jade Ho…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/blood-transfusion-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description There have been instances where a goat owner watched a severely parasitized, anemic goat die because they did not realize that a life-saving blood transfusion was an option for their animal. Surprisin…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/nigerian-dwarf-goats-in-adga/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description The Nigerian Dwarf goat has become a staple breed in the American Dairy Goat Association, and it has only grown in popularity since first arriving in the US from Africa in the 20th century. But how …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-conformation/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Show goats are held to strict conformational standards, but we often overlook the fact that our own herds would benefit from those same conformational standards. Extra teats, bad legs, weak pasterns, and crook…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/rent-a-goat/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Delve into the business of goat landscaping, also known as targeted grazing, goatscaping, and even rent-a-goat. In this business, your herd is hired by a landowner to clear off an overgrown plot of land. This has th…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/guardian-llamas/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anemia-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 a…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-goat-mineral/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 inclu…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/champion-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 C…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/hay-testing/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/pasture-grasses/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/good-pasture/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/herd-shares/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description 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 m…
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/listeriosis-in-goats/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Listeriosis can strike fear into the hearts of goats owners, not only because it needs prompt treatment to increase the odds of survival, and because it can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that it …
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Got a question? 🤔 Head over to https://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-stays/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! Description Have you ever thought about hosting guests on your farm for additional income, but were too unsure about the logistics to take the first step? Today’s podcast will offer clarity and may even inspire you to finally ve…
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If you ever wondered about the benefits of milk testing, today’s episode contains an abundance of valuable information. Today we are talking to Jeremy Leather, a field technician at Dairy One, a milk testing lab in New York State. While Dairy One offers multiple services, including forage and soil testing, we are focusing on their excellent milk te…
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Have you ever wanted to try raw milk, lauded for its health benefits, but were concerned about the safety? Like all raw foods from lettuce to oysters, there is a risk of contamination, but there’s a lot we can do to be sure that all of our raw food, including milk, is as safe as possible. We are talking to Mark McAfee, the chairman of the Raw Milk …
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Every goat owner has heard that goats don't do well with anesthesia, so we are always understandably nervous when our goats need to be sedated. Dr. Kelly Chen, Veterinary Anesthesiology Resident at Cornell University, joins us in this episode to talk about why goats are so challenging when it comes to anesthesia. First, we discuss the difference be…
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New goat breeders frequently ask where and how they can sell their goat kids. When I started with goats in 2002, I bought goats from breeders who had websites, so I assumed I would also need a website for selling my goats. That has been the only sales channel for my goats forever. In this episode, Emily Nyman and I discuss what information you need…
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If you've ever thought about starting a business with your dairy goats, today's episode will give you a lot of valuable information. We are talking to PJ Jonas, founder of Goat Milk Stuff, which sells all sorts of products made from goat milk. Although they focus on soap and body care products today, they also sold cheese, yogurt, gelato, and caram…
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Who wouldn't love free food for your goats? But before you call your local brewer or distiller and ask if you can pick up their spent grain, listen to this episode with Dr. Robert VanSaun, vet professor and ruminant nutritionist at Pennsylvania State University. Spent brewers grain and distillers grain are popular feed for cattle, but are less comm…
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If you've been looking for a smaller breed of goat that's parasite resistant, has excellent mothering skills, and comes in a variety of colors, the Arapawa goat from New Zealand might be a good fit, especially if you are interested in conserving rare breeds. In this episode, we are joined by Emily Nyman, Arapawa Goat Breeders Association President …
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Can goats threaten your health if you're a pregnant woman? If you are a woman, there are some specific precautions you should be taking with goats giving birth and also when using drugs for synchronization. Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and a reproductive specialist, is talking about …
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If you've ever had a goat with wonky knees, today's episode will shed some light on the problem. When a goat has carpal hyperextension, it means that the knees bend backwards rather than being straight. We are joined today by Dr. Erica McKenzie, Professor of Large Animal Medicine, Oregon State University and Dr. Leah Streb, 3rd year Laboratory Anim…
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Have you ever had a goat get an udder even though you are 100% sure she has not been anywhere close to a buck so could not possibly be pregnant? Normally, goats have to go through pregnancy and have a baby before they produce milk, but it's not impossible for a doe to start making milk without getting pregnant. A precocious udder is one that fills …
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Milk testing can provide you with a plethora of information about your does' milk production and the components of their milk, and they can even earn milk stars, but a lot of people never get started because they find the process daunting. Lisa Shepard, board member and former Performance Program Coordinator for the American Dairy Goat Association,…
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Some of the most common questions I receive from new goat owners are on the topic of manure management. Many new goat owners think they need to clean out the barn weekly or even daily, so in this episode I'm talking about how our barn cleaning practices have evolved through the years. I am also joined by some of our Goats 365 Premium members so the…
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If your farm plans are bigger than your budget and you're not even sure where to start, help is available. Your local USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service office can help you with technical assistance, cost-share programs, and grants. Joshua Hammond, a public affairs specialist with the NRCS, joins us in the podcast to discuss some of the p…
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If you want to view everything we know about individual ADGA-registered dairy goats in one place, check out ADGA Genetics. It's the brainchild of Gene Dershewitz, who created the database and website. He also responds to questions from goat owners or wanna-be goat owners. Gene says that most people are simply using the site as a pedigree viewer, bu…
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What do you do when your doe gets bred but doesn't get pregnant? There are a number of reasons why this can happen, and Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor in Production Management Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, joins us in this episode to discuss five of the possibilities. We are talking about the causes and t…
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Whether you are interested in finding buck service or renting out your bucks, you don't want to miss today's episode with Dr. Jamie Stewart, Assistant Professor in Production Management Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Although it is important to be sure that all goats have tested negative for CAE, CL, and Johnes, t…
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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 shee…
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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 differe…
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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 g…
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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 …
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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…
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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 the…
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