This podcast is for anyone desiring to learn more about the human process of traditional, ethical, economic and delicious livestock processing and eating.
Brandon and Lauren Sheard, co-hosts and owners of Farmstead Meatsmith--their small-scale, custom processing and education business--talk all things meat related: from practical knowledge to the philosophical inspiration behind growing, harvesting and eating meat.
Episode 111: Milking Dairy & Meat Sheep with Rachel & Kyle Hester, Part 2
→ In this episode, Brandon asks Rachel and Kyle all his questions about sheep milking, sheep breeds, wool processing, minerals used for health, dewormer, and fencing for sheep. They also discuss sheep harvesting and how mutton is more nutritious and flavorful than lamb.
→ Timestamps/Topics for Episode 111
0:00 Intro
1:02 How much milk can you expect when things are going well?
4:54 How long will you milk a sheep after she freshens?
7:58 Are there any dairy breeds that are hair sheep?/Mulching with wool
13:25 Is someone processing the wool for you?
16:28 What kind of minerals do you put out for your sheep?
27:15 Do you use any dewormer?
29:57 Following sheep with pigs
33:14 What kind of fencing do you use for your sheep and pigs?
40:26 Harvesting the first dairy sheep
46:14 Mutton is more nutritious and flavorful than lamb
→ Links for Episode 111
Whoopsy Daisy Farm https://www.whoopsydaisyfarm.com/ (https://www.whoopsydaisyfarm.com/)
The Guide to Homestead Dairy Sheep by Rachel Hester https://sawdustpublishing.com/product/the-guide-to-homestead-dairy-sheep/?v=0b3b97fa6688
Natural Sheep Care by Pat Coleby https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1302660.Natural_Sheep_Care
Much Ado About Mutton by Bob Kennard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21814351-much-ado-about-mutton
The Nordic Cookbook by Magnus Nilsson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25208269-the-nordic-cookbook
The Eco Flock: Small-Scale Shepherding for Uncertain Times by N S Rose https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102016416-the-eco-flock
→ Looking for more Meatsmith knowledge? Join our online membership or come to an in-person class:
Hands-On Harvest Classes - Join us for a hands-on harvest experience on our homestead in Oklahoma. We offer classes on harvesting pork, beef, lamb, and poultry in the Spring and Fall. Spots are limited to just eight students per class to maintain an undiluted hands-on experience. Jump on this chance and sign up today! Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/upcoming-classes/
Meatsmith Membership - We created an online community and resource for homesteaders and farmers. It serves all those who want to cook and eat well. We offer the fruits of our labor (and our kitchen) from more than fifteen years of experience, and our Membership community of over six hundred is an invaluable digital resource. The only one of its kind in the country, Meatsmith Membership provides an earnest and winsome approach to domestic livestock raising, slaughter, butchery, curing, cookery, and charcuterie. Join us today and partner in growing your home around the harvest. Monthly memberships are $17.49 per month, plus a one-time sign-up fee of $29.99. Or purchase an Annual membership for $189.49 per year with no sign-up fee, saving you $50.38. Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/membership/ (https://farmsteadmeatsmith.com/membership/)
11 Jul 2025
Episode 110: Milking Dairy & Meat Sheep with Rachel & Kyle Hester, Part 1
In this episode, Brandon chats with sheep homesteaders Rachel & Kyle Hester about Romanian placinta cake, how the Hesters got into raw milk for health, sheep breeds for milking, how to start milking a meat sheep, what a milking session looks like, drinking the delicious milk, and making sheep cheeses.
Timestamps/Topics for Episode 110:
0:00 Intro
3:13 Romanian placinta cake
5:49 How the Hesters got into homesteading with sheep
13:39 Milking meat sheep breeds during lockdown
16:50 Brandon asked about how to start milking his meat sheep
28:12 Herd culture and family groups
34:21 What a milking session looks like
38:00 Teat placement and selecting for good milkers
44:27 Sitting behind the sheep when milking
47:19 Milking just once a day & milk as the main product for a while
53:58 Making sheep cheese
59:46 Experimental cheese making
Links for Episode 110:
Whoopsy Daisy Farm https://www.whoopsydaisyfarm.com/ (https://www.whoopsydaisyfarm.com/)
The Guide to Homestead Dairy Sheep by Rachel Hester https://sawdustpublishing.com/product/the-guide-to-homestead-dairy-sheep/?v=0b3b97fa6688
Placinta cake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pl%C4%83cint%C4%83
Weston A Price Foundation - https://www.westonaprice.org
Joel Salatin https://polyfacefarms.com/ (https://polyfacefarms.com/)
Babraham Institute https://www.babraham.ac.uk/ (https://www.babraham.ac.uk/)
David Asher https://www.milklab.ca/ (https://www.milklab.ca/)
Natural Sheep Care by Pat Coleby https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1302660.Natural_Sheep_Care
Much Ado About Mutton by Bob Kennard https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21814351-much-ado-about-mutton
The Nordic Cookbook by Magnus Nilsson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25208269-the-nordic-cookbook
The Eco Flock: Small-Scale Shepherding for Uncertain Times by N S Rose https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102016416-the-eco-flock
Looking for more Meatsmith knowledge? Join our online membership or come to an in-person class:
Hands-On Harvest Classes - Come to one of our harvest classes on our homestead in Oklahoma. We offer classes on harvesting pork, beef, lamb, and poultry in the Spring and Fall. Spots are limited to just eight students per class to maintain an undiluted hands-on experience. Jump on this chance and sign up today! Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/upcoming-classes/
Meatsmith Membership - We created an online community and resource for homesteaders and farmers. It serves all those who want to cook and eat well. We offer the fruits of our labor (and our kitchen) from more than fifteen years of experience, and our Membership community of over six hundred is an invaluable digital resource. The only one of its kind in the country, Meatsmith Membership provides an earnest and winsome approach to domestic livestock raising, slaughter, butchery, curing, cookery, and charcuterie. Join us today and partner in growing your home around the harvest. Monthly memberships are $17.49 per month, plus a one-time sign-up fee of $29.99. Or purchase an Annual membership for $189.49 per year with no sign-up fee, saving you $50.38. Farmsteadmeatsmith.com/membership/ (https://farmsteadmeatsmith.com/membership/)
27 Jun 2025
Episode 109: Getting a Dairy Cow With the Dougherty's, Part 2
Shawn and Beth Dougherty discuss offering liberty to homeschooled teenagers, rebuilding after a house fire, improving soil, rotational grazing, and their Dougherty's Farmstead Butcher Trailers business in this interview.
Who has been a guest on A Meatsmith Harvest
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Shawn Dougherty
Beth Dougherty
The Doughertys
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
4,036,807
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
119 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 83 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
92
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
95
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