Need Goats To Eat Brush In Mo!

[BJ]

DH and I have tried for years to keep up with the wild brush on our 40 acres. Cows won't eat the multiflower roses and lots of the other wild stuff in our timber. It has been recommended that we get some goats to clear the brush. We have good field fence all the way around with 2 strands of bob wire on the top. Now we know absolutely nothing about goats....so guess we first need to know: what kind of goat is good to browse? How many? Can they just browse or will they need feed also? Do they need shelter at night? Can they browse along with the cattle who will protect them from predators or is that not a problem for larger goats. We have seen coyotes and bobcats in our area. We've heard they have to be wormed often? We're thinking if we can find some to buy cheap and just graze them all summer someone may want to buy the back in the fall??

[topside1]

I'll take the first ? Boer goats or Boer crosses. Docile, low maintenance. Fourty acres I'd buy a dozen, of course it depends on how fast you want your place cleared. Buy wethers or does. No bucks, unless you want to get into breeding at the same time...No bucks if you just want the crew to clear land...Boer goats will resell easily and you should not loose a dime when you sell.

[topside1]

Rarely will they need to be wormed providing you rotate paddocks, 40 acres is a lot of land so worm build-up will be minimal. I'd worm once a year...that all

[topside1]

They actually need shelter all the time. Goats hate rain.