Anyone using goats for clearing underbrush?

[newbury]

I'm thinking of trying to raise a few goats when I finally get to retire in Mississippi, primarily for brush/undergrowth control.

I've seen the "electric net fences" and they look interesting, seem fairly easy to move and a minimum investment.

Any one here doing similar?

Any recommended links, web sites for more info?

I'm not looking to get into meat, milk, or fur production just wanting to clear the underbrush.

 

[Creamer]

Growing up we always had 50 head of sheep to keep the underbrush down. They did a great job.

 

[BigCountry1689]

We use to use goats but we found that they were more susceptible to parasites, especially in the southern states. We tried the gamut from Lamanchas (Weird with there stubby ears), Nubians and the big Boar fad they all came with there own set of issues, unless your talking about pygmy goats which can practically eat concrete and the like but you cant hardly give them away.

We switched to hair sheep; Kata dins, Black Belly Barbados, etc... they work just as well even eat palmettos.

My mom has a pretty large herd (around 100) in Central Florida and every spring she has the babies sold for eating before they hit the ground. She covers her cost and money in her pocket just off the babies. She has the two I listed above plus a few 4 horn Jacobs Sheep. Very parasite resistant don't tear the fences up and just the right amount of skittish to stay back from you when your in the pasture.

Not that I don't like goats I showed them all through school but in the rainy season it would seem to end up with some break out of a respiratory infection or pink eye. With the sheep knock on wood..... nothing in 4 years.

I am not familiar with the fence you mentioned we would just put up field fence and call it a day.

 

[Qapla]

We have three goats. So far no medical problems .... but, they are hard on fences and climb on anything/everything (including the fences) and keep finding ways to get out.

Good side is, they prefer weeds over grass.

 

[newbury]

We have three goats. So far no medical problems .... but, they are hard on fences and climb on anything/everything (including the fences) and keep finding ways to get out.

Good side is, they prefer weeds over grass.

That's about what I'm thinking of doing. However the fence I linked to is electric netting and reports indicate the goats stay OFF the fences.

 

[mapper]

My sister and husband used goats to clear brush and BlackBerry vines from the dike at their farm in LaConner. They used a dog chain with a cultipacker wheel to keep them from wandering too far, did not keep them out of the yard though:laughing:

 

[Zerk]

One interesting thing a coat farmer told me, is they need a companion animal, or they will die. Can be a different breed of animal.

I have thought about it in passing, for lawn control. My fear with any animal, that **** thing will wake at dawn and start making noise.

 

[DT86]

There are businesses that specialize in using goats for brush control. People actually pay to have goats trailered in to eat their weeds. I think it's great.

Now about goats and the net fencing, I have two rolls of the fencing you linked. It works well as long as the animals aren't bat sh*t crazy and/or spook easy.

I do like to use a extra plastic step-in post (temporary set up) or metal T post (longer term) if making a sharp corner. The little rod posts made into the net bend fairly easy being pulled from two directions.

Edit, I should have said... once upon a time I became guardian of a few goats, unwillingly. They love brush and weeds and to climb things. Keep the fence away from tall objects they can climb.

 

[DrRod]

Not just people pay for brush control goats, the Federal government always has RFP announcements for goat grazing in national parks, forests, grass lands, et al. The winning bidder shows up with a trailer full of goats and sometimes an RV to stay in during the clearing process.

 

[Barry 1]