Goats help Michigan farmers battle invasive species naturally

Michigan landowners are using goats to control invasive plants like glossy buckthorn and multiflora rose
Goats are effective because they eat a wide range of plants, including woody and toxic species like poison ivy
Grazing helps farmers cut feed costs while reducing unwanted plants naturally

Instead of turning to chemicals or machinery to battle invasive plants, some Michigan landowners are enlisting a more natural solution: goats.

Companies like Goats on the Go and Goats for Hire are helping farmers and property owners control stubborn vegetation such as glossy buckthorn and multiflora rose by letting goats graze it away.

“Goats have a very natural tendency to eat very brushy and tall-growing vegetation and they also eat just a lot of different types of vegetation,” said DJ Breault, professional targeted grazer for Goats on the Go. “By using goats, we’re able to weaken these bases … through repeated grazings.”

During grazing season, which starts in the spring and ends in the fall, livestock obtain a significant amount of their protein by feeding on tall grass. Typically, grazing animals can feed on grass once it reaches between 6 inches to 8 inches or higher.

Breault, who is in his second year of business, has 16 goats that can graze 1 acre in about eight days. The average operator may have about 40 goats, which can graze the same amount of land in half the time.

Sometimes, customers get attached to the goats because they are allowed to play with and pet them, so they ask for the goats to stay an extra day, he said.

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Earlier this year, the Genesee County Land Bank used goats to attack invasive buckthorn, which officials said helped reduce crime and illegal dumping.

“In areas that we keep clean and green, areas that have clear line of sight, the reported violence against children actually decreases by 40%,” Kelly Jewett, urban conservation fellow for the Genesee County Land Bank, told local news.

The grazing G.O.A.T

Goats aren’t the only animals that can be used to get rid of unwanted plants, but they are the most effective. Goats have an expansive diet and can eat all types of vegetation, whereas other grazing animals like sheep and cows typically stick to grass. Goats can also eat high-growing woody vegetation because of their size.

“Poison ivy is actually really high in protein, which is something animals need,” Breault said. ”It’s safe for goats because they have … rumen and it’s basically a tank in their stomach that ferments this leafy material and detoxifies it.”

Landowners can also use pesticides to get rid of invasive species but those can be harmful to native plants if they aren’t used correctly. Mechanical tools like mowers or brush cutters can also be used, but those don’t always get to the root of the plant, requiring recurring maintenance.

“(Goats) work specifically well because they’re able to eat the seeds of the plant, especially longer seeds, because they have a very hard time surviving the digestive system of a goat,” he said.

“Every time you do the grazing, you will see less and less regrowth … especially if you target (plants) at the right time.”

A goat stands on its hind legs to reach high vegetation on a skinny tree — Goats’ ability to graze on woody, tall, and even toxic plants like poison ivy makes them more effective for managing overgrown land. (Courtesy of DJ Breault)

The downside of using goats

While goats can help get rid of unwanted invasive species, they require supervision and can be high maintenance.

And some say goats’ grazing can actually contribute to the spread of invasive species.

“With equipment, we can clean it off easily to ensure we aren’t transferring seed from one site to another. With animals, that’s a bit harder to do,” said Emily Clegg, director of land and water management for The Nature Conservancy Michigan. “We would be somewhat worried about unintended consequences of the introduction of new invasive species that can be introduced by goat feces from other sites.”

Strong and secure fencing is also needed to contain the goats or they will be at risk of running away.

Overgrazing can also do more harm than good. With little supervision, goats can get carried away and eat plants you want to keep.