Goats are in their glory: Herds are being called in to clear invasive plants
Animals are the heroes across the country as many towns are bringing in goats and sheep to clear invasive plants!
In Alexandria, VA: City officials say using livestock is safer and more cost-effective than sending human crews with heavy equipment onto steep or rocky terrain. The goats will target invasive plants growing along the park’s steep slopes. City officials say using livestock is more cost-effective than sending human crews with heavy equipment onto steep or rocky terrain, which can pose safety risks. The city says the method offers an environmentally friendly way to eliminate invasive weeds and support a healthier habitat for native plants. Once the goats finish eating the leafy greens, human crews will step in to remove the remaining stems and roots.
In British Columbia, Canada: On a grassy slope in Kanaka Bar, a herd of goats frolic and play. But this isn’t a farm or a petting zoo — it’s an innovative wildfire mitigation effort from the First Nation. According to the provincial government, silviculture is “the thoughtful, deliberate and balanced management of forests and surrounding local ecosystems” that encourages tree diversity to increase resilience against threats like pests, climate change and disturbances.
At the University of Calgary: The goat-grazing project is a proven land-management technique that uses livestock to naturally control vegetation growth. Scientists explain: “Unlike herbicides, which can have a lasting environmental impact, goats provide a natural way to reduce unwanted plant growth while encouraging native vegetation to thrive.”
Humans beware: Visitors are instructed not to enter the electric-fenced area, feed or pet the goats, or bring unleashed or reactive dogs near the grazing zone.
Learn from the experts at Goats on the Go
According to the Ames, Iowa-based organization: Targeted grazing applies a specific kind of livestock at a set season, duration, and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation or landscape goals. It is also known as “conservation grazing,” or “prescribed grazing” or “RX grazing.” The controlled and monitored nature of targeted grazing separates it from the over-grazing that has, ironically, acquired a reputation for environmental damage in some parts of the U.S.
Why goats? Herbicides can run off, are dangerous to handle, and lead to genetically resistant weeds. Power equipment burns fossil fuel and produces CO2. Goats go where people can’t, eat what most animals won’t, and leave behind nothing but fertilizer.
- Managed goats eat problem vegetation with little damage to desirable plants
- No poisonous herbicides and CO2-spewing machines
- Light-footed goats work in rough terrain with little risk of erosion
- Seeds are not typically viable after being eaten by goats
- Valuable fertilizer is the only by-product
- It’s a great show!
Sheep are helping, too: Solar grazing is targeted grazing done on solar farms, usually with sheep, for the purpose of managing the vegetation around solar panels to maximize energy capture. The practice is sometimes called “agrivoltaics.” It offers the following benefits over conventional means of vegetation control:
- Well-managed grazing can improve soil and promote beneficial vegetative cover, restoring a solar site after construction
- Grazing eliminates most need for chemical pesticides and machinery
- Solar farms managed with grazing layer sustainable, local agriculture over renewable energy production, benefiting nearby communities and the world!
About Goats on the Go, LLC: Founded in 2012 by the Steele and Steenhoek families near Ames, Iowa, tThe families shared a passion for practical conservation, sustainable agriculture, and rural living, and were searching for a way to grow beyond hobby-scale production on their small farms. Goats On The Go® provided that opportunity, helping their operations to produce great food profitably, while avoiding many of the pitfalls of conventional agriculture. In 2021 the Steele family became the sole owners of Goats On The Go®, managing its quickly-growing network of independent, local targeted grazing pros and providing them with training, customer leads, and community. Keep learning: goatsonthego.com
