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Goat
grazing offers a great many solutions to
the current weed epidemic. Goat grazing
alone does not eradicate all weeds,
however it does stop the spread of weeds,
and with other weed control methods weeds
can be stopped.
Goats
do not spread the seeds that they eat.
The goat has a very narrow
triangular mouth and they pick, nibble and
chew very fast. The shape of their mouth
and how they chew crushes most of
everything they eat as weed seeds go. In
the case of leafy spurge, a journal
article informs us, when a goat eats 100%
viable leafy spurge seed, 99.9% is
destroyed. Most is crushed by the teeth
and chewing action, the rest through the
digestive system. (Sedivec, K. et al.
1995, Controlling Leafy Spurge Using Goats
and Sheep. North Dakota State University
Extension Service, Fargo, North Dakota.)
Goats fertilize the ground so that new
grass seeds can be spread to stop the
infestation.
Goats
are also natures tree trimmers, they eat
bottom branches and pine needles leaving
the bark alone, this cuts down on
hazardous fuels for fires. An area that is
burned or cropped too close to the ground
will allow noxious weeds to grow instead
of the desired grass.
Goats browse, only cropping the
noxious weeds; they don’t care for grass
and will eat it only as the last option.
Using goats to remove the noxious
weeds, replanting with grass, using
bio-control methods, and certain
herbicides would be the ideal plan.
Ranchers
also benefit from goat grazing; it is the
land owners’ responsibility to control
noxious weeds.
A cow will only eat ten to fifteen
percent of noxious weeds, if ranchers’
fields are covered with weeds there is
less for the cattle to eat.
Herbicides also cut into
ranchers’ profits and time, with no
guarantee that the noxious weeds will be
killed. Some weeds have been known to
mutate into something else.
Goats can clear an area, letting
the grasses grow for the cows to eat,
saving the rancher money.
Goats
are also very cost effective at only two
dollars per day.
Fire crews run at sixteen dollars
per hour, per person.
Herbicide spraying alone can cost
thousands of dollars.
In
conclusion, goats are the best choice for
our environment.
They love the noxious weeds.
They save ranchers, tax payers and
land owners money.
They are more cost effective and
dependable.
They are great for preserving our
riparian areas, our forests, our farmlands
and our recreation areas.
Goats do no damage to desirable
grasses, reduce fuel for forest fires and
they are easily managed.
Goats are natures’ eradicators.
Phone
for a solution to your weed problems.
**Note: These are NOT our goats
depicted in the video. It is for
informational purposes only** |
