Goats Are Versatile
Goats can be used effectively in almost any location or terrain type, especially in terrain too rocky or steep for human or machine clearing. Goat-cleared areas are more fire resistant and significantly more attractive than areas cleared by machine.
Goats Are Cost Effective
Goats are one of the most cost effective brush and weed abatement resources per contracted area.
Goats Are Environmentally Safe
Goats are an environmentally friendly method for clearing areas containing endangered or sensitive vegetation and animal life. Thinning by goats is a natural method that results in a naturally balanced environment over the long term. Erosion from over-stripped, recently cleared land is eliminated safely and effectively.
Less Noise
Goats are far less intrusive than mechanical clearing tools. Which would you rather hear: The loud noise of heavy equipment, or the quiet grazing of goats?
Fire Prevention
Goats are one of the most effective fire prevention tools available. Areas cleared or thinned by goats recover more naturally and resist wildfires, giving fire crews the upper-hand and protecting life and property.
Goats do a good job
In exchange for modest fees, we let our goats loose on the land. These animals will not only clear large areas of wild brush and weed, but they will fertilize and till it, too! Depending on how fast the landowner needs the job done, goats will clear about an acre a day. With our herds, several acres can easily be done at once.
Our goats easily turn slopes that are heavy with dry brush into a closely-shorn masterpiece that resembles a freshly mowed fairway.
The goats will eat most vegetation that is available, including plants such as:
- Poison Oak
- Blackberries
- Artichoke Thistle
- Purple Thistle
- Bull Thistle
- Poison Ivy
- Mustard
- Scrub Oak
- Nettles
- Scotch Broom
- Wild Roses
- Tree Saplings
- Grass
Is there an optimal time of year for grazing?
This depends on what is desired by the land manager. For mitigation of a specific plant you may want the goats to graze prior to seed set of that particular plant. For fuel mitigation, timing may be based upon historical fire records for that area.
How are goats contained on a project?
We use wire netting and electrical fence on job sites, and we make sure to monitor the integrity of this containment on a daily basis. Then we place the goats in the grazing area; they are trained to stay within the confines of this area.
How are goats protected on projects?
Predator control dogs stay with the goats in the grazing area 24/7. We use Great Pyrenees, Akbash, and Anatolian cross predator control dogs.
How much does it cost to have a project grazed?
The fee depends on many different variables including size of the project, the amount of vegetation to be grazed, topography, the number of times a grazing cell will have to be moved, project accessibility, and project location. Each project is priced individually.
The cost of the project includes goat rental, dog rental, transportation, daily site monitoring, supplements and healthcare for the goats and dogs, fencing, and insurance.