Episode 18 For the Love of Goats If you ever thought about starting a commercial dairy, today's episode is for you. I am talking to a couple of New Yorkers who moved to Vermont to start a goat dairy selling gelato! Michael and Lisa Davis of Sweet Doe Dairy in Vermont talk about their decision to leave corporate jobs to become goat farmers and … [Read more...]
Rare San Clemente Island Goats
Episode 17 For the Love of Goats The San Clemente Island Goat originally came from off the coast of California where they had become so invasive that the government started an eradication program in the late 1970s. Today less than a thousand of these goats are currently found in small herds around the US and Canada. In this episode I'm talking to Erin Link, who … [Read more...]
Goat Law
Episode 16 For the Love of Goats Learn about your responsibilities and liabilities as a goat owner with Eva Moss, Farmer and Partner Development Manager at Farm Commons, which is a non-profit specializing in legal education for farmers. If you want to know why I'm not doing goat yoga on our farm, it's one of the first thing we talk about in this podcast. We … [Read more...]
Roundworms and Goats
Episode 15 For the Love of Goats Steve Hart, Ph.D., of Langston University talks about roundworms in goats, including the infamous barber pole worm, which causes a lot of heartache and financial loss for goat owners every summer. Did you know ...? a barber pole worm can lay 2000-6000 eggs per day can consume a pint of blood per week … [Read more...]
Dairy Goats in the City
Episode 14 For the Love of Goats Do you want dairy goats but don't have a farm in the countryside? It is possible to have goats in many cities, but there are a few unique challenges. In today's episode, I'm talking to Glenna Rose of Vancouver, Washington about the Nigerian dwarf dairy goats that live in her backyard and provide her with milk that she … [Read more...]
Pet Goats in the City
Episode 13 For the Love of Goats If you live in the city and wonder if goats would make a good pet, then listen to this episode. I'm talking to Matt Roben who has two pet goats in the city of Chicago. We're talking about choosing does (female goats) or wethers (castrated males) dealing with noise and being a good neighbor legalities of … [Read more...]
Goats Giving Birth
Episode 12 For the Love of Goats Have you ever wished you could attend a few goat births with a mentor? That's the idea behind my newest book, Goats Giving Birth: What to Expect During Kidding Season. In today's episode I'm telling you a little about the book and reading the introduction, as well as the first birth story in the first chapter. The book … [Read more...]
Thinking of getting goats?
Episode 11 For the Love of Goats I have recently heard that a lot of people are panic buying livestock right now. If you are one of those who are thinking of getting goats, this is the episode for you. I'm busting myths and telling you about things you need to think about before buying your first goats. And yes, that's goats with an s at the end. Goats are herd … [Read more...]
All About Electric Fencing
Episode 10 For the Love of Goats If you own goats, you only get one chance to get fencing right. One of the first things I learned about goats was that they were too smart for me to use a sub-standard fencing option. When we brought home our first goats, we thought that the existing single-wire electric fencing that had been installed for the former horse farm would … [Read more...]
Equipment and Housing for Goats
Episode 9 For the Love of Goats This episode includes a basic equipment list for goats, as well as what goats need for housing. You'll learn what you need -- and what you don't. We'll answer these questions: Why do you need a hay feeder? Why do you need a mineral feeder for loose minerals rather than just getting a mineral block? Why is a water bucket better … [Read more...]