For the Love of Goats

Got a question? 🤔 
Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/cl-study-in-goats-and-sheep/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 
Show Notes
An abscess on a goat does not automatically mean caseous lymphadenitis (CL). In fact, a study looking at 10 years of diagnostic testing at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory found that roughly two-thirds of samples submitted for targeted CL culture came back negative.
In other words, two-thirds of the goats that had an abscess did NOT have CL. 
In this episode, Deborah Niemann talks with Dr. Craig McConnel of Washington State University about what the study found and what those results mean for goat and sheep owners.
They discuss the difference between culturing an abscess and using a blood test to look for antibodies, why a positive blood test does not always mean an animal has an active infection, and why screening tests should not automatically be used to make individual animal decisions.
They also talk about Johne’s disease, OPP/CAE, test sensitivity and specificity, prevalence, and why it is important to have a plan for what you will do with both positive and negative test results before you test.
Featured Guest
Dr. Craig McConnel is a professor at Washington State University, where he serves as Director of Veterinary Medicine Extension and Director of Continuing Veterinary Medical Education. He earned his DVM from Washington State University and later completed advanced training in ruminant medicine, veterinary clinical studies, and epidemiology. His research has focused on livestock health, disease epidemiology, herd management, animal well-being, and the economic impacts of disease in dairy and ruminant systems. 
For more information
Prevalence and demographic trends of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Caseous Lymphadenitis) in domestic goats and sheep: A ten-year retrospective study from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 
Episode 88 - Testing Goats for CAE, CL, and Johne’s
Episode 87 - CL in Goats: Caseous Lymphadenitis
Episode 91 - Johne’s Disease in Goats
Abscesses and CL in Goats (article)
Thanks for tuning in!
If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.
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.
🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership
🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy
🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.
Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 
Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/homestead-decluttering/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 
Show Notes
Clutter can build up quickly on a homestead. Tools, livestock supplies, equipment, canning jars, soap-making ingredients, and all those things we might need “someday” can slowly take over barns, workspaces, and even our homes. But when does being prepared cross the line into simply having too much stuff?
In today’s episode, Deborah Niemann talks with Melanie Cohen, founder of Thoughtfully Coaching and host of the Lighten Up: The Art of Living Clutter-Free podcast, along with several Goats 365 members. They discuss why decluttering should come before organizing, how to deal with “just in case” clutter, and how emotional attachment, cost, and fear of needing something later can make it difficult to let things go.
They also talk about the difference between clutter and preparedness, how clutter can affect productivity and stress, and why maintaining a decluttered space requires ongoing effort. 
Melanie shares practical ideas such as looking at what you have actually used in the past, borrowing rarely used equipment, setting aside short periods of time to declutter, and asking whether an item still serves you in your current season of life. The goal isn’t minimalism—it’s creating enough space to do the things you truly want and need to do.
Featured Guest
Melanie Cohen is the founder of Thoughtfully Coaching and host of the Lighten Up: The Art of Living Clutter-Free podcast. She helps people understand how clutter can affect productivity, stress, daily routines, and overall well-being, while creating practical habits for letting go of what no longer serves them. 
Thanks for tuning in!
If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.
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.
🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership
🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy
🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.
Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 
Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/fecal-egg-count/ -- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 
Show Notes
If you've ever been told that a high fecal egg count means you should automatically deworm a goat, this episode is for you.
A fecal egg count is one of the most valuable tools we have for monitoring internal parasites—but it's only one piece of the puzzle. It tells you how many parasite eggs a goat is shedding, not whether that goat is actually sick or needs treatment.
In this Goat Note, Deborah explains why two goats with the same fecal egg count can have very different parasite burdens and very different treatment needs. You'll also learn why a goat with a relatively low egg count may still require immediate attention.
This episode builds on the previous Goat Note about the difference between parasite resistance, parasite resilience, and dewormer resistance. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, it's a great place to start because it lays the foundation for understanding why fecal egg counts don't tell the whole story.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What a fecal egg count actually measures—and what it doesn't
Why parasite egg counts don't always reflect how sick a goat is
How parasite resilience affects treatment decisions
Why a low fecal egg count doesn't always mean a goat is healthy
What other factors should be considered before deciding to deworm a goat
Why "It depends" is often the most accurate answer when someone asks whether a goat needs treatment

Goat Note Takeaway
Treat the goat—not the fecal egg count.
A fecal egg count is an important management tool, but it should never be used by itself to decide whether a goat needs to be dewormed. Always consider the whole animal, including FAMACHA score, body condition, age, production stage, appetite, and other clinical signs before making treatment decisions.

Thanks for tuning in!
If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.
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.
🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership
🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy
🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.
Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 
Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/kickstarter-for-farm-projects/-- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 
Show Notes
Kickstarter can be a useful option for farmers who have a creative project in mind but want to test demand before making a large investment. Instead of taking out a loan for equipment, products, or a new farm experience, a campaign can help show whether enough people are interested to make the idea worth pursuing.
In today’s episode, Deborah Niemann talks with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, about how the platform works and how it can be used for farm-related projects. They discuss why Kickstarter is designed for specific, creative projects rather than general business expenses, and why having an existing audience is one of the strongest predictors of a campaign’s success.
Deborah also shares what she learned from using Kickstarter to fund a glamping tent for her farm. She explains how the campaign helped her confirm that people were interested in staying on the farm before she purchased the tent. Oriana discusses how to choose a realistic funding goal, create appealing rewards, build trust with potential backers, and avoid common mistakes such as setting a goal that does not match the size of your audience.
They also talk about the difference between Kickstarter and GoFundMe, whether a campaign needs a video, how far in advance creators should begin preparing, and what to do if a project does not reach its goal. Oriana shares practical advice for first-time creators, including backing other campaigns, creating a detailed budget, involving your audience early, and beginning promotion long before the campaign launches.
Featured Guest 
Oriana Leckert is the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter. She works with creators to help them understand crowdfunding, plan successful campaigns, and bring creative projects to life. Although her primary focus is publishing, she shares strategies that can also be applied to farm products, agritourism experiences, events, and other creative agricultural projects.
Resources & Links
Kickstarter
Kickstarter Creator Resources
Check out our Goats 365 membership

Thanks for tuning in!
If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.
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.
🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership
🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy
🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.
Happy goat-keeping! 🐐

Got a question? 🤔 
Head over to -- https://thriftyhomesteader.com/parasite-resistance-resilience-and-dewormer-resistance/-- and drop it in the comments—so we can reply! 
Show Notes
Have you ever heard someone talk about parasite resistance in goats, only to have someone else start talking about dewormer resistance? Although they sound similar, they're describing completely different things.
In this first official Goat Note, Deborah explains three concepts that every goat owner should understand:
Parasite resistance – A goat's ability to limit the number of parasites living inside its body.
Parasite resilience – A goat's ability to stay healthy and productive despite carrying a parasite burden.
Dewormer resistance – The worms' ability to survive treatment with a deworming medication.
Understanding the difference isn't just about using the right terminology. These concepts affect breeding decisions, parasite management, and how we preserve the effectiveness of the dewormers we still have available.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why parasite resistance and resilience are not the same thing
How parasite-resistant goats help reduce pasture contamination
Why resilient goats can still shed large numbers of parasite eggs
Why dewormer resistance is a problem with the parasites—not the goats
How confusing these terms can lead to poor management decisions
Goat Note Takeaway
Parasite resistance and parasite resilience are traits of the goat. Dewormer resistance is a trait of the worms.
Once you understand that distinction, many of the recommendations you hear about breeding, parasite control, and selective deworming become much easier to understand.
If you enjoyed this Goat Note, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future short episodes where Deborah breaks down one goat question, one common misconception, or one research-based concept in about 10 to 15 minutes.
Resources
Learn more about parasite management at Goat Worms: A Complete Guide to Winning the War in Your Pasture
Explore the Parasites in Goats course at Goats365.com.
link to previous parasite episodes …Episode 113 - Pasture Management for Parasite Control
Episode 95 - 5-Point Check for Parasites
Episode 6 - Natural Parasite Control with Lespedeza
Episode 153 - Dewormer Resistance: A Goat Owner’s Experience
Episode 68 - New Goat Dewormer Guidelines
Episode 24 - Using Dewormers Correctly
Episode 114 - Goat Worms: Myths and Misunderstandings 

Thanks for tuning in!
If you’d like to support the content you love and help us keep bringing you new goat resources, you can do that through our Tip Jar.
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.
🔹 Check out Goats 365 membership
🔹 Or explore The Goat Academy
🔹Looking for Deborah's books?  They can be purchased wherever books are sold, or you can get an autographed copy on our online store.
Happy goat-keeping! 🐐