2011 Annual Report for FNC10-815
The economic value of multi-species grazing of cattle and goats utilizing goats for brush and weed control
Summary
KELLY FRENSKO and JIM DEBOER 2011 Progress Report
WORK ACTIVITIES
This grazing season we had two hundred goats and 15 cow calf pairs. The goats and cows went out to pasture on June 10th. We had a late start due to a backorder of fence and building panels that we would use to contain the goats. The spring weather was wet and cool. We divided the pasture into smaller areas using step-in posts and three poly-wirers and using a back wire so the cows couldn’t go back to the already grazed land. We moved the fence every two to three days depending on the land area. On July 30th we moved the goat herd to Jim Deboer’s pasture and shelter belt to clear his invasive plants. We moved the goats weekly because he had an abundant supply of weeds. The goats were over there until September 30th. After that we moved them back to our yard where we put them back with the cows.
RESULTS SO FAR
The result we had in the pasture using the goats were the warm wood sage and thistle was eaten down to the stick of the plant. In the shelter belt the goats cleaned up the burdock and thistle plants. Using the rotation of area and giving the area a rest period, the grass had a nice regrowth. The goats ate the seed heads and the leaves of the invasive plants and brush plants in the pasture and shelter belts. It’s a lot more effective using the cows and goats to manage invasive species then to mow and spray chemicals onto the pasture. (No lab tests were taken on soil or plant material. The information and picture collected by Rebecca and Duaine were never given to us upon their job loss.)
WORK PLAN FOR 2012
Next year we plan on starting to graze earlier in the season. We are planning on expanding our goat numbers, which should help to control the invasive weed species. Next year we are going to do mob grazing with the larger number of goats. By using mob grazing we will be moving the fence more often.
OUTREACH
We didn’t have a field day due to the loss of Rebecca and Duaine’s positions as South Dakota Livestock Extension Educators, due to cut backs. I did share my information with neighbors who stopped in and were interested in utilizing goats for weed control Next year’s plans are undetermined because we are waiting for them to fill the Extension position.
PENNY ADLER 2011 Progress Report
WORK ACTIVITIES
A plant inventory was completed by extension agents Rebecca Shafer and Duane Marxen. At that time we also set out grazing enclosures as our control to protect areas from grazing so that we could measure the impact the goats had on weed control.
Throughout the grazing season we split an existing pasture into paddocks using portable fencing so that we could rotate the animals – goats and horses -- more often into smaller areas. We also set up fencing around previously ungrazed areas including shelterbelts and larger tree stands. We also used portable fencing creatively to protect areas that we were concerned with the damage to existing shrubs and trees, but at the same time provide shelter and shade. We also cleaned up hazards that were deposited many years ago but could cause injury to animals. The goats and horses were rotated thru the different areas. We did not graze them together but they each had their own rotation pattern. Not all areas were used by both species depending mostly on the topography and types of forage available.
We monitored the growth of weeds in the pastures, and did very limited mowing and spray for weed control.
Some of the planned monitoring activities “fell thru the cracks” after the re-organization of the SD Extension program and its corresponding impact on agents. My work plan for next year will incorporate more of those work activities.
?
RESULTS SO FAR
Two areas that I would like to spotlight –
Using more of our land productively – With the use of portable fencing it allows you to look at your available resources differently. An unfriendly tract of land because of topography or being wet in some years would make one question the wisdom to put up permanent fencing. We grazed shelterbelts, hilly land surrounding water, and the tree groves and grass areas in the farmstead itself. We increased the number of productive acres by 5 percent. We did have a negative lesson on resource management as we allowed the goats to damage some shrubs. We did subsequently but up a fence around them and this experience has helped us evaluate the fencing needs as we go into new areas.
Improving Weed Control and Forage Production – In previously grazed areas, we did no chemical treatment for weeds. There is only one area of thistles that is circumspect. We will mow in a more prescribed manner in that area to assist the goats. Our intent is by the third year we will have it under control with mowing and goats and no chemicals. Forage production improved thru the better weed control, but also thru the creation of the canopy in the shelterbelts and tree stands allowing more light.
WORK PLAN FOR 2012
I have two focuses:
We are again looking at increasing the number of productive acres available to us by grazing previously marginal land. Specifically, there is a gravel pit that has had no productive use for decades. Its size and topography were both limiting factors in the past but it does have a good stand of grass (unknown quality). We will be aggressively measuring the pre-condition and post-condition of the area so that we understand better this ‘virgin’ area and the outcomes of multispecies grazing and subsequent weed control offered by the goats.
The other focus is improving the monitoring and measuring activities.
1. Photo Plant Inventory before turnout, and monthly through the grazing season.
2. Forage analysis before and after grazing
3. Livestock weights before and after grazing period.
4. Parasite Exams
OUTREACH
Information about what we were doing was shared within the goat association and with area farmers. Next year we will be doing a field day and cooperating with the local extension agents to advertise and communicate our project.
?