Grazing Goats with Virtual Fencing in Timbered Landscapes to Control Unwanted Brush While not Impacting the Growth or Mortality of Coniferous Trees

Commodities

• Additional Plants: trees
• Animals: goats

Practices

• Animal Production: grazing management
• Crop Production: agroforestry
• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research

The purpose of this project is to determine whether grazing goats
in timbered landscapes can control unwanted brush encroachment
while not having a negative impact on the growth or mortality of
desired coniferous tree species, primarily Douglas fir and
Redwood. Additionally, the goats will be confined to the test
areas using the innovative technology of virtual fencing. The
desired outcomes are to determine if goats can be utilized to
reduce the use of herbicides to control unwanted vegetation and
reduce the use of fossil fuel dependent, high-cost mechanical
removal of unwanted vegetation.

The study sites will include the following: 1) Oregon white oak
and California black oak woodlands with heavy Douglas fir tree
encroachment, where the fir trees are less than 5 years of age
(goal: to use goats to eat young Douglas fir trees where firs are
unwanted); 2) timber ground with redwood trees that are less than
5 years of age threatened by brush encroachment (goal: to use
goats to eat brush but not harm young Redwood trees) and 3)
Douglas fir trees under the age of 5 years and threatened by
brush encroachment (goal: to use goats to eat brush but not harm
young Douglas fir trees).

Through this research, we expect to find that with frequent
virtual fence moves the goats do not cause significant damage to
desired Douglas fir and Redwood trees. We also expect that
low-frequency moves of virtual fencing may result in damage to
young Douglas fir trees in areas they are not desired. If our
hypotheses are correct, timberland owners could use goats as an
ecologically friendly method for treating brush encroachment.

This project will provide information for producers on the value
of virtual fencing. This will show reduced time and labor,
allowing for an efficient and easy method of rotating goats.

The purpose of this project is to determine whether grazing goats
in timbered landscapes can control unwanted brush encroachment
while not having a negative impact on the growth or mortality of
desired coniferous tree species, primarily Douglas fir and
Redwood. Additionally, the goats will be confined to the test
areas using the innovative technology of virtual fencing. The
desired outcomes are to determine if goats can be utilized to
reduce the use of herbicides to control unwanted vegetation and
reduce the use of fossil fuel dependent, high-cost mechanical
removal of unwanted vegetation.

The study sites will include the following: 1) Oregon white oak
and California black oak woodlands with heavy Douglas fir tree
encroachment, where the fir trees are less than 5 years of age
(goal: to use goats to eat young Douglas fir trees where firs are
unwanted); 2) timber ground with redwood trees that are less than
5 years of age threatened by brush encroachment (goal: to use
goats to eat brush but not harm young Redwood trees) and 3)
Douglas fir trees under the age of 5 years and threatened by
brush encroachment (goal: to use goats to eat brush but not harm
young Douglas fir trees).

Through this research, we expect to find that with frequent
virtual fence moves the goats do not cause significant damage to
desired Douglas fir and Redwood trees. We also expect that
low-frequency moves of virtual fencing may result in damage to
young Douglas fir trees in areas they are not desired. If our
hypotheses are correct, timberland owners could use goats as an
ecologically friendly method for treating brush encroachment.

This project will provide information for producers on the value
of virtual fencing. This will show reduced time and labor,
allowing for an efficient and easy method of rotating goats.