Goat / Sheep Weed Abatement

[skatcatla]

Ditto what helmstead did. I worked with this small goat-brush clearing business for several weeks and multiple jobs and not once were the goats starved before doing a job.

If anything, the joy in those goats once they got to a new site was completely evident. They frankly got bored waiting in their corral between jobs; getting to a new site meant all new terrain to explore and plants to browse!

The goats were rarely left on a site for more than a few days and they didn't eat everything. Anything they didn't want to eat was cleared out by hand afterwards. They were certainly not forced to eat anything they didn't want to..in fact, I don't think you COULD force a goat to eat anything.

However, I do think it important to note that goats that ONLY browse vegetation can fall out of condition, especially dairy goats. Dairy goats are not recommended for this purpose for that reason...the vegetation doesn't provide enough fat to get good quality milk. Goats that are used for brush clearance will definitely need feed supplements to keep them at a healthy weight and condition.

Nifty-Chicken: Yes both Goats -R-Us and LSM are large scale operations for large projects. They may provide you with just a small herd though. Or there might be some smaller operations.

A word of warning about LSM..I think they were in the papers in San Francisco recently for having some serious issues with abandoning goats. I'd consider investigating carefully before hiring them. Oh, and the woman I worked with was using Boer Goats and a couple of Nubians.

 

[helmstead]

Sounds like you will need a mixture. Personally, because of the copper problem, I'd mix goats and a couple miniature horses. (Well - obviously I'm partial to horses, too). Mini horses are GREAT grass mowers because they don't tear up turf as badly as full sized horses.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I talked with Living Systems. Very friendly and provided lots of good info. Unfortunately the cost was going to be $2,000 - $2,500 for my tiny 1.2 acres.

I asked a bunch of questions and what I was most interested in was that goats are less noisy than sheep, and generally goats are pretty quiet, especially the males.

I wonder if I could just buy some goats on Craigslist for the next 4 months, let them eat up the weeds (I'd also feed them whatever else they need) and the sell them / give them away on Craigslist.

How much is a good price to pay for a few goats? Am I getting in over my head? Is this more hassle / expense than it is worth?

 

[1acrefarm]

A lot of folks are saying goats will not eat grass unless they are starved. My goats seem to be an exception. They go for the grass first before the brush. They get plenty of feed too.

 

[silkiechicken]

I say if you get some, and go though the expense of fencing them.... just keep them and never mow the field again. I've seen them starting at about 100 a piece.

 

[kstaven]

With goats and eating grass, I have found that changes with the breed. My toggenburgs love tall grass as much as the brush on the property. Other breeds have just ignored the grass.

 

[MissPrissy]

Sometimes you can find wethers for under $50 (I have seen them for $25). Goats are social so you would need 2 or 3 to keep themselves entertained. Bored goats can do some damage.

 

[ksacres]

Do you have grass or weeds? My goats prefer weeds but will eat grass. If you want goats as weeders only DO NOT BUY DOES!! Does go into heat in the fall and most are VERY noisy at that time. Get yourself a couple of wethers (castrated males) at the salebarn. They don't smell, they are quiet, and generally very easy to tame as pets. You can usually get a couple young mixed breed wethers at auction for around $20 each. Very economical LOL

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

All weeds... but grass type weeds.

Living systems also said that wethers were a good way to go. I guess I'll start looking into it.

 

[ksacres]

You can ALWAYS find wethers of dairy type-nobody wants them. As long as you don't want to breed, seems they will fit your needs just fine. Goats are not really picky, they just like variety, that's why I asked if you had weeds-they will usually eat these first. Some people use them for pasture improvement b/c they will eat noxious weeds that others species won't touch, but as straight grazers for plain grass, not so good.