Best Millie Bradshaw Animal Scientist, Rancher, Homesteader Podcasts (2025)

1
55 | Fencing for Goats: Two Things You Must Have to Keep Your Goats Contained and Safe 15:24

23h ago15:24

15:24

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about building fence for goats. Fence is one of the biggest investments in owning goats, and I’ve heard it many times that if your fence won’t hold water, it won’t hold goats! That sure seems true sometimes, but today I’m going to share some strategies we’ve used to successfully fence our goats, keep them contained, …

1
54 | Butchering Meat Goats: How Much Meat Do I Get from a Goat Compared to Other Livestock Species? 14:03

8d ago14:03

14:03

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about how much meat you can expect when you butcher livestock. We’ll go over averages for the common species, and I’ll also share how our last goats performed as far as meat yield, comparing Boer and Spanish breeds. If you’re raising your own meat or hoping to in the future, this episode is packed with valuable infor…

1
53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them 19:38

15d ago19:38

19:38

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about big picture management and goals for your farm, ranch or homestead. It doesn’t matter if you have a few acres or a few hundred, it’s important to have a plan. I’m going to walk you through our plan for livestock and land, talk about why we’ve made some of the decisions we’ve made and our plans for the future. T…

1
52 | What’s in My Kidding Bucket and the Supplies You Should Have On Hand When Your Goats Kid 15:24

22d ago15:24

15:24

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about preparing for kidding goats, specifically, what I have in my kidding bucket and what I like to have on hand in case of an emergency. This episode will give you a great place to start getting your supplies together for kidding, as well as some ideas to put on your list to have around when things don’t go as plan…

1
51 | What’s the Real Cost of a Fast Food Burger? How to Feed Your Family Premium Beef for Less 12:10

29d ago12:10

12:10

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about meat, ground beef specifically, and what it really costs to buy a burger at the drive through. We’ll talk about things you need to look for when purchasing ground beef and the options you have to feed your family one of the most nutritious foods on the planet – red meat, in the form of ground beef. Let’s get to…

1
50 | Get Ready for Kidding: Order Your Tags in 4 Easy Steps 15:41

1M ago15:41

15:41

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about getting your tags ordered for kidding season. We’ll talk about tagging laws, and we’ll walk through the step-by-step process I use to decide what tags to order and how many we need. We have lots of goats to tag, but I’m also going to give you a simple, affordable, and legal way to tag if you only have a few goa…

1
49 | 3 Strategies to Make the Best Use of Bulk Meat Storage and Avoid Freezer Overwhelm 13:50

1M ago13:50

13:50

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about freezer meat storage and how to make the best use of bulk meat you either raise or purchase. I’m going to share three different strategies we’ve used to make sure we utilize everything in our freezer, eliminate waste, and take the stress out of dinner time. No more staring in the fridge at 5:00 p.m. wondering w…

1
48 | How to Trim Hooves on Goats + Big Announcement: Beef and Pork Sales are OPEN! 15:28

2M ago15:28

15:28

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about trimming hooves on goats. This is really a simple task most of the time, but it’s one of the hardest to start because of the fear of doing it wrong or hurting your goats. Today I’m going to talk you through hoof trimming, factors that affect hoof growth, the tools you need, how to do it, and a couple pro tips t…

1
47 | How to Adjust to the Flavor of Homegrown Meat and Eggs Before You Raise Your Own 15:15

2M ago15:15

15:15

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about homegrown food – meat and eggs specifically – and why they taste different than what you buy at the grocery store. Some people have a hard time liking homegrown food, so we’ll talk about some tips and strategies to help you adjust to the taste of home grown. If you’re getting ready to raise your own eggs and me…

1
46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early? 11:28

2M ago11:28

11:28

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about early versus late banding of buck kids, things you should consider, the pros and cons of early banding, and the results of our experiment we did last year testing out early banding on a handful of kids. They’re 11 months old now, so it’s time for an update! Let’s dive in! All the Best! Millie Mentions: Dry Cree…

1
45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat 19:28

2M ago19:28

19:28

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about goat meat and other ruminant meat vs monogastric meat, the health benefits and the “why” behind it all. I’m going to dive deep into ruminant digestion and show you why ruminants are magical! Ruminant Nutrition is my specialty and I’m excited to share how the uniqueness of the ruminant digestive process positive…

1
44 | Small vs Large Ruminants on the Homestead: Why Raising Goats First Will Help You Raise Cattle Later 16:13

3M ago16:13

16:13

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about the benefits of starting out your livestock raising journey with small ruminants like goats and sheep instead of starting with cows. We’ll compare the investment and risks, and the reasons why getting started with goats might be a good decision even if your ultimate goal is to raise cattle. There’s a lot of val…

1
43 | How to Treat Entropian or Inverted Eyelids in Baby Goats 14:18

3M ago14:18

14:18

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about entropian or inverted eyelids in goat kids and how to treat it. We’ll go over what causes it to happen, how to recognize it quickly, and the options for treatment, both with a veterinarian or on your own at home. This episode will teach you how to easily handle what can be a scary situation, so let’s dive in! A…

1
42 | Surviving Extreme Cold with Livestock When Your Animals Aren’t Adapted to Freezing Temperatures 13:24

3M ago13:24

13:24

Hi friends! A couple weeks ago, we talked about how to help goats thrive in winter, and right after that, a good portion of the United States started experiencing extreme cold temperatures for their typical climate. So, today, I want to talk specifically about how to support your livestock during extreme cold when you and your animals are not accus…

1
41 | What Type of Meat Bird Should I Raise? Cornish Cross, Hybrid and Dual-Purpose Explained 19:27

3M ago19:27

19:27

Hi friends! It’s time for a chicken episode! Today we’re talking about meat birds because it’s time to order if you’re going to raise chicks this year and you want to be able to get the exact birds you are looking for. We’ll be talking about the different types, pros and cons of each, and by the time we’re done, you’ll be ready to decide what is go…

1
40 | How to Help Your Goats Thrive in Winter 17:14

4M ago17:14

17:14

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about how goats adapt to winter weather, things you can do to help them thrive in winter, and some things you shouldn’t do that seem helpful, but end up being problematic. We’ll talk about winter coats and shelters, and how other animals compare in their ability to tolerate cold and snow. In ranch-terms, we use the w…

1
39 | Can I Buy Just One Goat? Meeting the Social Needs of Livestock to Keep Them Happy, Healthy and Productive 12:59

4M ago12:59

12:59

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about the social needs of livestock and why they need to be raised with others, preferably of their own kind, to make sure they are happy, healthy and productive. Listen in to find out why you don’t want to raise animals alone whether you’re raising them for food or breeding purposes. All the Best! Millie Related Epi…

1
38 | Buck Management That Will Keep You, Your Goats, and Your Neighbors Happy 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about breeding season and buck management. I’ll share our management plan for bucks through the year, some mistakes we’ve made and tips to avoid making the same mistakes, as well as some simple things you can do that make a big difference when dealing with common buck problems. With adequate space and good fencing, y…

1
37 | Replacement Doe Management: Later Selection to Choose the Best Does for Your Herd 12:39

4M ago12:39

12:39

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about replacement does and how and why our management system has changed over the past couple of years. Should you breed your does to kid as yearlings or 2-year-olds or something in between? It’s a question we hear a lot, and every breeder does it differently, so I’m going to walk you through the evolution of our bre…

1
36 | What We Miss the Most While Building Our Off-Grid Life 11:17

4M ago11:17

11:17

Hi friends! It’s been a while since I did an off-grid living episode, so today I’m going to give you the big picture of our off-grid move and then talk about what we miss the most after 2+ years living here and what we’re doing to remedy that. All the Best! Millie Episode Mentions: 09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-S…

1
35 | Winter Hay Feeding Evaluation: Meeting Nutritional Requirements of Goats and Reducing Hay Waste 13:14

5M ago13:14

13:14

Hi friends! In today’s episode we’ll be talking more about winter hay feeding, monitoring your feed and waste, and how to determine if you’re meeting the nutrient requirements for your goats. I’ll go through the process I use to evaluate our hay feeding and how to make changes if things aren’t working the way you planned. This one’s loaded with det…

1
34 | How to Adjust Your Expectations and Production Plan for Death Loss in Your Livestock Herds 11:51

5M ago11:51

11:51

Hi friends! In today’s episode we’ll be talking about animal loss in livestock herds, how to prepare for it, how much death loss is likely to happen, and how to get your expectations in line with the realities of raising animals and the losses that come along with it. It’s important to understand that success isn’t necessarily keeping them all aliv…

1
33 | Should You Use Hobbles or Not? Stand Training Your Dairy Goats and Practical Milking Tips 15:24

5M ago15:24

15:24

Hi friends! In today’s episode I’ll be answering some questions that came in after last week’s dairy goat episode. I’ll be focusing on the actual milking process including stand training your does, milking equipment, and milk handling the way it works for us. We’re a little unconventional in our dairying practices, so listen in if you lean towards …

1
32 | Do You Want Dairy Goats Without the Twice a Day Commitment? How to Get Fresh Milk and Keep Your Freedom 11:39

5M ago11:39

11:39

Hi friends! In today’s episode I’ll be sharing why we got started with dairy does, how we manage them in a very unconventional way, the challenges we had, why it works for us and our busy life, and how you can do it too. If you’re thinking about getting dairy goats for your own milk consumption or to feed bottle babies, this episode is for you! All…

1
31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter 13:11

6M ago13:11

13:11

Hi friends! In this episode we’ll be talking about preparing your coop and chickens for winter. We’ll talk about the changing nutritional needs of your birds as they molt and how to meet those needs, some options for easier water, requirements for their shelter and bedding, and the big question, heat lamps. Should they be used or not? I’ll also sha…

1
30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress 11:37

6M ago11:37

11:37

Hi friends! In this episode we’ll be talking about making livestock decisions on the ranch or homestead, how to evaluate your decision-making process, and how to use that information to make a better-informed decision the next time. To help explain this, I’ll be sharing about a frustrating and slightly embarrassing problem we faced on the ranch rec…

1
29 | Are Your Goats Too Fat or Too Thin? How to Body Condition Score and Adjust Your Feeding Strategy for Healthier Goats 16:00

6M ago16:00

16:00

Hi friends! In this episode we’ll be talking about evaluating your goats to see if they’re healthy, need any hoof work, and if their body condition is right for the season they’re in. I’ll talk you through determining Body Condition Score, why it’s important, and how to use it to improve the overall health and productivity of your goat herd. All th…

1
28 | Winter Feed for Livestock: Calculate How Much Hay You Need and a Strategy to Save Money 13:09

6M ago13:09

13:09

Hi friends! In this episode we’ll be talking about winter feeding, how to calculate how much hay you need, the best way to store it and a strategy that will help you thrive even when hay prices are volatile or the weather gets extreme. This information will apply to all species not just goats. I’ll also be sharing some exciting news and some fun th…

1
27 | Which Goats Should I Keep for Breeding? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season 10:25

7M ago10:25

10:25

SHOW NOTES: Hi friends! Last week we talked about does, age of breeding, and I briefly mentioned keeping replacement does out of the top 1/3 of the doe kids, but what I didn’t tell you, is how to determine which doe kids make up the top third or how to rank the does. So today, we’re going to break this down a little more as well as talk about goat …

1
26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready to Have Their First Kids 13:51

7M ago13:51

13:51

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about does, different options on when to breed them, and I’ll give you a strategy to use to determine whether your does are ready to breed or not. I’ll also be talking about replacement does, expected replacement percentages and how to use those numbers to reach your goals of herd improvement and growth. You might wa…

1
25 | Concerned About the Food Supply? Simple Ways to Ensure That Your Family Will Be Fed in the Event of a Food Availability Crisis 11:20

7M ago11:20

11:20

Hi friends! We’re harvesting animals and stocking the freezers, so what better time to talk about the food system, food storage, and how to build your food security, specifically as it relates to meat and protein. We’ll be talking about simple ways to get started building your food storage, things to consider when it comes to buying and storing mea…

1
24 | What Is That Smell? The Bucks are In Rut! Should You Buy a Buck to Breed Your Does or Is Leasing a Better Option? 14:59

7M ago14:59

14:59

Hi friends! The bucks are in rut and smelling ripe, so today we’re going to talk about what you need to know about buck management and selection, if you should own a buck or not, the options you have to get your does bred without owning a buck, and how to select your buck if the time is right for you to own one or two. Let’s dive in and figure out …

1
23 | Boer vs Kiko: What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2 11:15

7M ago11:15

11:15

Hi friends! Last week we started talking about how to choose the right meat goat for your climate and environment, and the things you need to consider. This week we’re talking about the five most prominent meat goat breeds, and we’ll wrap up with tips on where to get your first meat goats and how to get them off to a great start. This episode is lo…

1
22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1 11:04

8M ago11:04

11:04

Hi friends! In the next two episodes we’re talking about how to choose the right meat goat for your climate and environment. Today we’ll discuss things to consider, and next week in Part 2 we’ll talk about the five most prominent meat goat breeds, and we’ll wrap up with tips on where to get your first meat goats and how to get them off to a great s…

1
21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset 11:36

8M ago11:36

11:36

Hi friend! Hi friends! Today we’re talking about sustainability, how to evaluate options to determine which ones are most sustainable long-term and how that will help you increase your future self-sufficiency. We’ll be talking about a sustainability mindset as it relates to your home, food, and especially livestock. All the Best! Millie Join our em…

1
20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor 10:57

8M ago10:57

10:57

Hi friend! Today we’re talking about lessons learned raising 4-H livestock over the last decade, and how those same lessons apply to raising livestock for food, homesteading, and self-sufficiency. We’ll be talking about the way we approach the 4-H livestock program, which tends to be quite different than others, but it’s resulted in a lot of succes…

1
19 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 2 18:19

8M ago18:19

18:19

Hi, friend! Today I have a special guest on the show, my oldest daughter, Sage, who turned 18 in March and is finishing up her last year in 4-H. We talk about the lessons she’s learned raising livestock, how it has affected her and her life view, the way it opens communication as we work together, and she even has a bit of advice for parents who wa…

1
18 | Interview with Sage Bradshaw on Life with Livestock and 4-H Projects PART 1 18:04

9M ago18:04

18:04

Hi, friend! Today I have a special guest on the show, my oldest daughter, Sage, who turned 18 in March and is finishing up her last year in 4-H. We talk about the lessons she’s learned raising livestock, how it has affected her and her life view, the way it opens communication as we work together, and she even has a bit of advice for parents who wa…

1
17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral? How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy 13:49

9M ago13:49

13:49

Hi, friend! Today we’ll be talking about mineral for goats, why they need it, what works best, how to keep from wasting expensive mineral and the short- and long-term benefits. I’ll tell you about the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, and what we’re doing now that is working really well for the goats and for us. All the Best! Millie M…

1
16 | The Results Are In! Our 2024 Kidding Season Numbers for the Meat Goat Herd, and What You Should Be Keeping Track of in Your Herd 15:20

9M ago15:20

15:20

Hi, friend! Today I’ll be reporting in on the 2024 kidding season for our commercial meat goat herd. I’ve been crunching the numbers and I’m going to share them with you, along with how they’re calculated and why we do it the way we do. I’m also giving quite a bit of detail on our management decisions, production goals, and lots of explanations on …

1
15 | The Most Important Lesson We Learned Going Off-Grid, and How You Can Do the Same Thing to Simplify Your Off-Grid Plan 10:35

9M ago10:35

10:35

Hi, friend! Today we are talking about the most important lesson we learned going off grid, and how you can learn from our experiences and mistakes to make your own off-grid journey much smoother. We’ll talk about changing your expectations about power, thinking differently about electricity to find alternatives, and modifying the way you live to m…

1
14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Available Forage Nutrition 14:46

10M ago14:46

14:46

Hi, friend! Today we are talking about the annual production cycle we follow with our goats, timing of breeding and kidding, why we do it that way, and lots of other things we’ve tried. I’ll also share other options that are popular and successful in other areas. This episode will be a high-level walk through of our production calendar, and the big…

1
13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting 20:40

10M ago20:40

20:40

Hi, friend! Today we are talking about electric netting for goats, different types and their uses, when it works, when it doesn’t, and how to use it effectively. I’ll be giving tips for success and things to be aware of when using electric netting with goats. This episode is packed full of tips I’ve learned from 6 years of experience (and some fail…

1
12 | Raising Kids and Livestock? Teach Life Lessons, Build Character, and Strengthen Your Relationships While Raising Animals 15:13

10M ago15:13

15:13

Hi, friend! Today we are talking about raising kids with livestock, the skills and life lessons they’ll learn, and how it will benefit them for the rest of their life. I’ll be sharing tips on age-appropriate work, motivating kids to do their chores, teaching them to be self-motivated, and how to strengthen your relationship with your kids while wor…

1
11 | Should I tag my goats? What You Need to Know About Government Requirements and How to Use Tagging to Benefit Your Herd 11:48

10M ago11:48

11:48

Hi, friend! Today we are talking all about tagging goats for identification, what the USDA rules are on tags and how we do it here at Dry Creek Livestock. I’m sharing all the information you’ll need to make a decision on tagging that is right for you and your situation. Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mentions: How to obtain a Premise ID: htt…

1
10 | 5 Tips to Raise Bottle Goat Kids That Thrive 13:16

11M ago13:16

13:16

Hi, friend! Today we are talking all about bottle goats! Pros and cons of bottle kids compared to dam-raised kids, and I’ll be sharing 5 tips to help you successfully raise your bottle goats: Let’s get to it! All the Best! Millie Mention: Pritchard Teat: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/pritchard-teat?criteria=Pritchard+Teat&species_id=0&cat_id=0…

1
09 | The Most Important Nutrient for All Livestock is WATER, Time-Saving Tips for Meeting Animal Requirements, and How We Do It Off-Grid 12:11

11M ago12:11

12:11

Hi, friend! Today we are talking about the most important nutrient for all livestock… WATER! It seems simple enough, but keeping adequate water available to your animals through all the seasons can be quite challenging. I’ll be sharing some tips to manage water efficiently as well as explain how we do it off-grid! All the Best! Millie Connect with …

1
08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell 12:10

11M ago12:10

12:10

Hi, friend! Today we’re taking a hard look at our livestock and evaluating to see if we should keep going or change directions with each herd or animal. I give you six areas to evaluate and then walk through the process with our show goat herd. Do we keep the show goats or sell them? You’ll leave with a plan to assess each of your livestock animals…

1
07 | Should My Goats Have Horns or Not? Pros and Cons of Disbudding Goats 10:00

11M ago10:00

10:00

Hi, friend! Today we’re going to talk about disbudding goats – should your goat herd have horns or not? We’ll talk about the purpose of horns, risks of removing them, challenges with leaving them on, building fence depending on what you choose, can you mix horned and disbudded goats, and all the things you need to know to make the best decision for…

1
06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals 9:34

11M ago9:34

9:34

*** Top 3% Global Podcast! *** Hi, friend! Today we’re going to talk about what animal I think is the best for beginner homesteaders to start with. We’ll be talking about evaluating your resources, risk management, experience and safety, and how raising this animal will help you be better prepared to add in your next ones. We’ll talk about all the …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Millie Bradshaw Animal Scientist, Rancher, Homesteader Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide