For the Love of Goats

Send us a text 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 crooked faces may sound as though they aren’t that big of a deal outside of the show ring, but those standards have practical reasoning behind them. Ultimately, they produce a strong, sound specimen that can live a long, productive life. Don’t we all want that for our goats, even those that will never see a show ring? In this episode, we’re talking to Emily Thompson who has been an ADGA judge for 24 years, co-chaired several committees, served on the Linear Appraisal Committee, and raises Alpines and Toggenburgs with her family under the Kara Kahl Alpines and the Legendairy Toggenburg herd names. Emily offers clarification on breed standards in the ADGA Guidebook, the two areas that award the most points in the show ring and why, and the importance of a good mammary system. She also covers what to look for regarding good conformation when purchasing a new goat, defects that will never go away (and some surprising ones that may), as well as some serious defects that should immediately land a goat into either the non-breeding pet or freezer category. See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goat-conformation/ To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar Thanks for listening! No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Send us a text 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 the potential to create a triple win as the goats could get some great browse, the landowner is able to clear land in a holistic way, and you can pocket some extra cash. Today, Margaret Chamas, the affiliate network support person for Goats on the Go, is joining us to cover the ins and outs of this intriguing and potentially lucrative market. She discusses the number of goats you need to get started, startup costs, overhead costs that may surprise you, and what you can expect to charge for your services. She also covers potential pitfalls such as seeing your herd’s body condition slip when the available browse is lower in quality, dealing with escaping goats, and the most difficult part of the job. 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.

Send us a text Have you been considering getting a guard llama for your herd? You may have many questions such as: where can I find a good guard llama? How much should I expect to pay? Are there traits I should look for? What about the importance of age and the castration status for males? In this episode, Deborah is talking to Carol Reigh of Buck Hollow Llamas, an expert who has been raising and breeding llamas for 27 years and selling guard llamas for around 20 years. Listen in as she offers sage advice on choosing a good guard llama, identifying behavioral problems you should watch out for and what can lead to them, how to introduce your new guard to your herd, and why you should always avoid purchasing llamas from auctions. Plus, learn about Berserk Male Syndrome and why bottle-fed llamas could be dangerous. See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/guardian-llamas/ To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar Thanks for listening! No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Send us a text Goat owners should be well-versed in the art of the FAMACHA check. We know that bright red mucous membranes of the eyes are a good sign while pale or white mucous membranes could indicate a heavy parasite load and anemia. But if your goat is anemic, outside of administering a dewormer, should you offer additional treatment? Did you know that your goat may also be anemic from causes other than a heavy parasite load? In this episode, we are joined again by Dr. Robert Van Saun, professor of veterinary science at Pennsylvania State University and a specialist in ruminant nutrition. Dr. Van Saun covers various other ailments that could lead to anemia in your goat. He also discusses those oral iron supplements and the science behind whether or not they are actually effective in treating an anemic animal. Plus, should you be worried about anemia if your goat eats kale? See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/anemia-in-goats/ To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar Thanks for listening! No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Send us a text Does attempting to select the right minerals for your herd make your head spin? Do you know which three minerals are the primary keys to your herd’s health? How about the proper levels that should be included in a good mineral? Is there an easy way to know that the mineral you selected is appropriate and worth your money? In this episode, I cover the nutrients that goats are most likely to become deficient in and what you should look for when shopping for a great loose mineral. I also touch on mineral antagonists and how balance really is key in your nutritional program. Stop throwing your money away buying minerals that are mostly salt. Learn the whats, whys, and hows for choosing a good mineral. See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/choosing-goat-mineral/ To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com Want to support the content you love? Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar Thanks for listening! No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

Dan Laney, a goat breeder and a judge with the American Dairy Goat Association, has been helping people in Nepal raise goats since 2014. In this episode, he talks about how being in a coma for a month and then losing his mother to cancer ultimately led him to finding more meaning in his life by helping others. Visit For the Love of Goats to see complete show notes.