Why Grazing?
…and Why Goats?
Targeted grazing is the intentional use of livestock grazing - or in the case of goats, “browsing” - to achieve land management goals, such as reducing fuel for wildfires or keeping invasive weeds in check.
Goats aren’t the only stock used for prescriptive grazing, but they are useful for eating both brush and grasses, and they drink less water than larger animals. For the Sierra Foothills in particular, goats’ willingness to climb takes them into rocky landscapes where machines and humans have a harder time.
It’s not true that “goats can eat anything,” but they will graze and browse a larger variety of noxious weeds than other livestock will, as long as they are properly nourished with supplemental minerals and protein.
Other benefits of using goats:
Greatly reduce the biomass that feeds wildfire
No chemicals/herbicides
Quieter than machines
Improve soil quality
Contain invasive species while allowing more beneficial, native plants to thrive
Improve forest health
Enhance wildlife and biological diversity
They are delightful and relaxing to have around