goats to clear land

Dubi · #1 07/18/08, 12:21 PM

Hi, we have never had goats before but are thinking of getting some mainly for clearing brush throughout our 120 acres. Our thought is to rotate them around with portable fences and try to keep a guardian dog with them. A few questions:
..Though Boers seem to be the most commonly used for brush control, will all goat breeds do a great job? We actually are interested in a fiber breed for a secondary product.
..Do goats do well in pairs or do they need a larger herd of companions?
..What type of fencing is needed to keep them in?
..Do goats typically get along with horses and cattle? Thinking about working them into the pastures also.
..Will 200 acres (ours plus neighbors') keep goats busy for very long?

Thanks for any thoughts

Minelson · #2 07/18/08, 02:34 PM

I'll try to answer some of your questions...
....I have 1 pygmy with her 2 offspring that are 1/2 Nigerian Dwarf. They will eat brush just fine.
....Goats do well in pairs and any amount is ok as long as it's more than 1 goat.
....For what you are doing I would use either combination/cattle/hog panels or electric wire or that electric net fencing.
....Typically they get along with other livestock but it depends on the nature of the livestock...you wouldn't want to put them in with a mean horse that will chase/bite them. Mine get along good with my 2 horses but I introduced them slowly.
....200 acres is a lot! I have know clue how long it would keep them busy bit I think it would be a very long time

Check out this website for more info on goats too....http://fiascofarm.com/

DQ · #3 07/18/08, 04:41 PM

for reference I had about a 1/4 acre area of honeysuckle posion ivy and misc stuff that 10 goats ate down in about 3 days. and I mean there wasn't a leaf left and they were chewing twigs. if you want them to kill the vegetation you would have to allow them to eat it down several times or it might recover.

Sweet Goats · #4 07/18/08, 04:48 PM

I just meet up with tis lady that has Cashmere goats, and she takes them all over the place to do weed control. In Colorado Spring they hire her twice a year to take care of the weeds.
I have to say that yes all goats will eat weeds, it is the Cashmere that eat all the Noxious weeds. She showed me in her contract that she has with the state if Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. All three contracts said that they have to be Cashmere goats that are on the land for weed control. I thought she was just pulling my leg but nope I read it myself. She has over 3000 Cashmere goats to do her jobs, and a friend just brought her another 75 to 100.