Most effecient way to clear land
01-09-2007, 05:04 PM
#11
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: a van down by the river
Posts: 8,939
RE: Most effecient way to clear land
I remember reading about goating an area in the NRCS FOTG. Looked it up, and its still there:
Biological Brush Control
Use goats for follow-up treatment after chaining, dozing, chopping, prescribed burning, shredding, or
for initially controlling oak. The use of goats is never the primary brush treatment unless the brush is
already accessible for control by goats. Use brush heavily in spring after leaves are fully developed to
assure complete defoliation by June 1. Control only the amount of area at one time that goats can be
concentrated on for sufficient defoliation. Pastures that are being goated for brush management will
not be grazed with other kinds of livestock.
The following methods will be used to control brush with goats:
1) Priority Pastures
Choose two pastures to rotate goats between and assign one first priority and the other
second priority. Sufficient goats are needed to maintain 85 percent defoliation in the first
priority pasture and 65 percent defoliation in the second priority pasture if brush is
mechanically controlled in that pasture.
Control the brush mechanically in the first priority pasture.
Initiate goating when leaves are fully developed in late April or early May. Place the goats in
the first priority pasture at the rate needed and as often as necessary to maintain at least 85
percent defoliation. When the goats are not in the first priority pasture, they will be placed in
the pasture with second priority. Maintain this rotation for the full growing season. It is
desirable to defer the pasture during winter and spring while brush is dormant.
During the second year, reverse priority on the pastures and proceed with the rotation.
In the beginning, it is recommended that at least a prior fall deferment be made with no winter
grazing on the pasture to be mechanically treated and goated the following growing season.
2) Thirty (30) Days In and 30 Days Out
The most effective control occurs when new leaves and twigs are browsed in the initial stage
of growth immediately following full leaf expansion. Stock with sufficient goats to obtain at
least 65 percent defoliation in approximately 30 days. After defoliation, rest the pasture for
approximately 30 days. The system is a 30-day in and 30-day out grazing system with goats -
resulting in at least 3 months of rest each growing season. A minimum of 3 years of goating is
generally needed to obtain desired control. It is desirable to defer the pasture during winter
and spring while brush is dormant.
3) Fifteen (15) Days In and 15 Days Out
Apply the system in the same manner as the 30-day in and 30-day out except that a 15-day in
and 15-day out rotation is utilized.
TEXAS, NRCS
February 2006
