Managing weeds with Goats and Sheep

Weeds are something that are rarely wanted in paddocks, but there is more and more research showing the negative effects of spraying weed killers. So how else can you manage weeds in your paddocks?

Goats and Sheep are a great way to manage vegetation (weeds, regrowth and grass) while adding vital nutrients back into the soil.

Goats are a browser; they eat predominantly vegetation, such as twigs, leaves and young shoots. Browse makes up as much as 80% of their diets are made up by browse, the other 20% coming from pasture.

Sheep on the other hand are almost exactly opposite with majority of their nutritional needs being met with pasture. This allows for Goats and Sheep to be grazed together without any worry of running out of food for any one species.

When grazed together, Goats and Sheep complement each other greatly. While the Goats are eating the tougher, rougher forage Sheep will be looking to feed on grasses, legumes and forms (pasture). As the eat the move around as a herd, this means that there is multiple hoofs breaking up the soil.

Once the Goats and Sheep digest their food, their manure is then stood on and mixed back into the soil. This adds nutrients like Nitrogen back into the soil. One additional advantage is Goat manure is almost odorless, so they can be kept closer to people without a funky smell.

The one part about using Goats and Sheep to manage vegetation that is often overlooked is their personalities! They each have their own personalities making

watching Goats and Sheep graze and play is quite relaxing and often very humorous.

There is many reasons to use Goats and Sheep; Manage vegetation, regenerating the environment in a sustainable manner and for the joy that they can bring.

By Carl Miller, Owner of Stonecroft Goats