Cow vs. tractor for mowing

Highbeam · May 23, 2006

"Does anyone have experience with llamas?"

They spit. I don't wan't some animal spitting at me.

I have ridden and packed mules and found them very pleasant. If donkeys share the domestic traits of the mule with the ability to whoop up a coyote then a donkey sounds great. Be ready for the eeeeey-ooooooor, followed by suck blow suck blow honking sound. You'll know it when you hear it.

When goats goat out an area do they kill the trees? I know they would strip foiage off of the low libs but if you had a big tree in there would they strip the bark off and kill it?

Highbeam · May 23, 2006

"Does anyone have experience with llamas?"

They spit. I don't wan't some animal spitting at me.

I have ridden and packed mules and found them very pleasant. If donkeys share the domestic traits of the mule with the ability to whoop up a coyote then a donkey sounds great. Be ready for the eeeeey-ooooooor, followed by suck blow suck blow honking sound. You'll know it when you hear it.

When goats goat out an area do they kill the trees? I know they would strip foiage off of the low libs but if you had a big tree in there would they strip the bark off and kill it?

texasjohn · May 23, 2006

Goats will not strip bark off of large trees. However, they will push bushes around... and push whippy trees toward the ground so that they can get the leaves. This will happen only if you REALLY have the place overstocked.... that's the beauty of it... stock it heavy at the start to get control of the brush... then remove animals to the number needed to maintain the desired appearance. You can choose between almost compeltely bare ground to a bushy/browsed appearance..

texasjohn · May 23, 2006

Goats will not strip bark off of large trees. However, they will push bushes around... and push whippy trees toward the ground so that they can get the leaves. This will happen only if you REALLY have the place overstocked.... that's the beauty of it... stock it heavy at the start to get control of the brush... then remove animals to the number needed to maintain the desired appearance. You can choose between almost compeltely bare ground to a bushy/browsed appearance..

dubba · May 24, 2006

( Goats will not strip bark off of large trees )

If I only had a scanner...

I have pictures of a goat teaching a steer to strip bark from pine, oak, & hickory trees. The steer was better at it then the goats. He could get a wide patch started, then strip it up to the next branch. Sometimes that branch was 10 ft up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My goats will kill anything standing as fast as they can eat it. Particularly pine.

dubba · May 24, 2006

( Goats will not strip bark off of large trees )

If I only had a scanner...

I have pictures of a goat teaching a steer to strip bark from pine, oak, & hickory trees. The steer was better at it then the goats. He could get a wide patch started, then strip it up to the next branch. Sometimes that branch was 10 ft up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My goats will kill anything standing as fast as they can eat it. Particularly pine.

texasjohn · May 24, 2006

Interesting.... never have seen that... live oak, pecan, all sorts of trees native to the Texas hill country on the place... even some mountain pine...until the porcupines moved in and started eating them up....

Nevertheless, the concensus seems to be... you want a firebreak, get goats /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

texasjohn · May 24, 2006

Interesting.... never have seen that... live oak, pecan, all sorts of trees native to the Texas hill country on the place... even some mountain pine...until the porcupines moved in and started eating them up....

Nevertheless, the concensus seems to be... you want a firebreak, get goats /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

JoeAnthony · May 26, 2006

I agree with everything said about the goats and sheep. In my experience, sheep eat more than the goats. Plus the sheep can be sheared to make a little money. Putting in a billy or ram will make some money too, but don't forget about chores like hoof trims, drenching, etc.

Donkeys are great around either, but can be touch and go about how they feel about people. The one that kept the best eye on the critters was also the one that would bite or kick you if you weren't looking!

A cow would be a bad idea and a bull even worse, especially if you don't have any experience handling them. It's tough to handle 1,000+ pounds that doesn't do what you want and downright dangerous with a bull. If I have to tamper with a bull (and I can't get someone else to do it for me), I won't make an attempt without at least one other man on horseback.

In addition to all that trouble, the cow or bull won't remove enough green stock to be worth it.

Hope this helps,

Joe

JoeAnthony · May 26, 2006

I agree with everything said about the goats and sheep. In my experience, sheep eat more than the goats. Plus the sheep can be sheared to make a little money. Putting in a billy or ram will make some money too, but don't forget about chores like hoof trims, drenching, etc.

Donkeys are great around either, but can be touch and go about how they feel about people. The one that kept the best eye on the critters was also the one that would bite or kick you if you weren't looking!

A cow would be a bad idea and a bull even worse, especially if you don't have any experience handling them. It's tough to handle 1,000+ pounds that doesn't do what you want and downright dangerous with a bull. If I have to tamper with a bull (and I can't get someone else to do it for me), I won't make an attempt without at least one other man on horseback.

In addition to all that trouble, the cow or bull won't remove enough green stock to be worth it.

Hope this helps,

Joe