Goats for a clean pond?

[marhar]

I am looking to build a pond. The back side of the pond will be shallow and cover a large grassed in area. All of that said. I want to keep the edge of the pond clean.

Has anyone ever used this method?
What are the downsides to using goats to keep the edges of a pond clean

 

[MossRoad]

...
What are the downsides to using goats to keep the edges of a pond clean

If you never want to swim in that pond... probably not much. But livestock runoff into a pond can have some serious health issues for human immersion.

 

[grsthegreat]

If you are using a rubber liner, i know animals can punch holes in them with feet. Not sure if goats are heavy enough to do this though. Deer and elk play havoc with them in my neck of the woods.

 

[bigtiller]

E-coli bacteria is some bad stuff.

 

[big bubba]

how will you contain the goats?

 

[john10]

I am looking to build a pond. The back side of the pond will be shallow and cover a large grassed in area. All of that said. I want to keep the edge of the pond clean.

Has anyone ever used this method?
What are the downsides to using goats to keep the edges of a pond clean

I have not used goats but have used horses and cattle too keep the edges of my 3 acre pond clean and they work very well as long as you do not over stock the area. My area 2 or 3 acres per large animal and you will have less bacteria than most pools. Depending on the fish you stock your pond with you will need to keep a eye on the water ph. level using test strips. The only downsides to using goats is they are hard to keep in a fence.

 

[big bubba]

large hoofed animals are what stock ponds are designed for. however their presence will basically destroy a landscaped pond. i just use a 36" walk behind zero turn that works great on the dams (3) OP: good luck, wise to do homework in this forum.

deer & feral hogs (regrettably) are the largest animals around the ponds. cattle & horses would quickly destroy this one. OP:do you plan to landscape pond margins? if so, goats would make quick work of it. best of luck
btw a rogue beaver got both of the Japanese maples, but he is no longer drawing breath.

 

[MossRoad]

....
btw a rogue beaver got both of the Japanese maples, but he is no longer drawing breath.

Probably allergies....

 

[big bubba]

not sure what you mean, aspen/poplars are top of menu for beavers, after this one did 4 or 5, he started on the maples. i'm on a mt top, 1st one i've encountered, but my place is very wet natured finally put a bounty on his pelt to my neighbor who took him out.