Mother Nature created a perfect weed eating machine
in goats.Noxious weeds
are extremely aggressive, invasive and difficult to control.
Herbicides have been
used with limited success, but repeated use of chemicals is
expensive and
In addition, repeated use of chemicals can cause
weeds to mutate and
actually increase in density and endurance.
Since goats prefer weeds over grasses they will always seek
weeds out and consume
them first . Managed goat herds snap off and consume all the
flower heads then pick
off the leaves leaving a bare stock. Because the flower is eliminated
immediately, it
cannot go to seed and without leaves it cannot photosynthesize
and build a root system.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that goat grazing is a highly
effective means of
reducing seed head production. Goats have been used successfully
to control Yellow
and Purple Star Thistle, French (Spanish, Scotch) Broom, European
Annual Grasses
and a list o other noxious plants that degrade both plant and
animal habitats.
Knowledge of a weed's growth and reproduction cycles is crucial
when prescribing
a grazing treatment. Living System's staff understand that precisely
timed grazing/browsing
of a weed in conjunction with other methods can eliminate the
weed's ability to reproduce,
kill the weed and ultimately lead to its eradication in a managed
area.
Goats, Sheep and Thistle
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