Raising & Management of Brush Goats

One of the primary ways that cattle herders control their grazing land is by using herbicides to kill off undesirable weeds and brush that their cattle cannot or should not eat. Ranchers may also employ personnel or purchase equipment to control the buildup of brush on their land. However, another effective and natural way to clear land of brush buildup is by owning a herd of goats to take care of the brush for you. These ̶0;brush̶1; goats are an effective means of clearing grazing land for cattle.

  1. Benefits of Bush Goats

    • Using a herd of goats to control brush on your property has many benefits, particularly if you have multiple acres of grazing land for a herd of cattle you are raising. Goats prefer brush and weeds to grass so they won̵7;t endanger the grazing land for cattle. In addition, keeping goats eliminates the need to use synthetic chemicals; goats clear brush beneath the tree line, leading to healthy grass growth beneath the tree line. Goats also reproduce well, making it easy to raise the number of goats you need in a short amount of time to keep or sell off. Goats are also excellent producers of milk and cheese.

    Acquiring Brush Goats

    • Goats are one of the least expensive types of livestock to purchase and raise; they do not require as much money to buy and feed as cattle. Purchase one goat for every cow you own, or purchase half that amount and give your goats two years to reproduce up to the level you need, which is typically a one-to-one ratio of goats to cows. Select goats that have been raised near you on a grazing lot so that they do not experience shock when you move them to your land. Choose goats with sound feet and legs that have deep, wide bodies and correctly aligned teeth. Avoid limping, lethargic goats.

    Raising Brush Goats

    • Let goats loose on your well-fenced land to graze daily. Provide three-sided sheds in which they can seek shelter during rainy weather; goats do not like to get wet. You should have enough trees on your land under which your goats can seek shelter from rain and heat. Rotate your goats from one pasture to another to avoid their completely ridding one pasture of not only the brush, but healthy grass and tree bark as well. Deworm, eartag and vaccinate your goats. When pasture land brush runs low, feed hay to your brush goats. Consider rimming your property with electrical fences to protect goats from wolves, wild dogs and other predators. A good watchdog can also aid in protecting goats from predators.

    Managing Brush Goats

    • The biggest challenge to raising brush goats is keeping them contained in the precise grazing area in which you want them. Unlike sheep, goats are smart. Their small stature and athletic nature make it easy for them to jump over, squeeze through or chew apart fences built to keep them penned. They are natural roamers, so you must erect and regularly maintain wire gates and fences that are spaced closely together to keep goats where you want them.