What is targeted grazing?
Targeted grazing is the application of a specific kind of livestock at a determined season, duration, and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation or landscape goals. It is also known as “conservation grazing,” or “prescribed grazing.”
The controlled and monitored nature of targeted grazing separates it from the over-grazing that has, ironically, acquired a reputation for environmental damage in some parts of the world.
Yeah, I thought Allan Savory and all that holistic management stuff had been debunked?
While Allan Savory’s ideas about using cattle to restore ecosystems have faced a lot of criticism, (seriously, how can anyone argue we need more cows on this planet?) goats are excellent for land management and wildfire prevention.
Unlike cattle, goats are natural browsers, not range grazers—they love to eat all kinds of plants in all kinds of terrains, including leafy spurge, invasive species, and thorny trees and shrubs. Spanish Goats, the kind we work with, are super tough and can thrive in all kinds of challenging environments, making them a great fit for restoring steep or densely-vegetated areas. Plus, their small size and preference for eating while climbing means their effect on the land is minimal.
Following the recommendations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, we use a rotational “mob grazing” approach so that goats are in and out without compacting the soil. In fact, they leave behind organic fertilizer that breaks down five times faster than cow patties. (Goat droppings are small, pellet-like, and distribute widely, allowing them to break down more quickly without “burning” nearby vegetation, making them a more balanced fertilizer.)
What will the goats eat?
Our goats are not specifically trained to eat certain plants and avoid others, but it’s fortunate that many goat favorites are nuisance or invasive species, and the foundation of the wildfire fuel ladder. They include:
Goats also eat grass, but if brush, small trees, or weeds are available, grass will make up a relatively small portion of their diets.
Importantly, goats cannot remove Tree-of-Heaven, because that plant regrows rapidly from the stump or lateral roots if cut or disturbed.
What does it cost?
It’s difficult to provide a hard and fast dollar figure until we do a (free, no-obligation) visit to your property. We do have a minimum charge equal to one acre of grazing, so think of $1,200 as a base rate.
Rates vary based on the distance from our home base, the density of vegetation, the ease of getting water to your site, and a few other details. Contact us using the Get a Quote link in the upper right-hand corner of this page, and you’ll be provided with a ballpark figure. If it works for you, then we’ll set up a time to meet on-site!
How long does it take?
That depends on the density of vegetation and the size of the property. Once we know more about your site and your goals, we’ll be able to give you a better estimate. Projects taking more than 10 days per acre are rare, and 4-7 days per acre is more typical.
Generally, you can expect a short-duration service designed to get the job done efficiently while still giving you plenty of time to enjoy the process.
How far will you travel?
Everywhere in our territory, (see map,) and outside on a case-by-case basis. The larger the project, the farther we can travel and still keep costs in line, but it does get expensive.
Will the vegetation grow back?
The short answer is yes, vegetation will eventually grow back, just as it would if you mowed your lawn or applied herbicides. How quickly/densely it returns, and the amount of post-goat maintenance needed will depend on how the goats are applied, the season in which they are applied, and the condition of the vegetation in the area.
We will formulate a strategy that matches your goals for your property, however short- or long-term they are.
Shouldn’t you be paying me, since my property is feeding your goats?
Yes, the goats need to eat, but if we were only interested in putting weight on, we would choose a much more efficient way to do it. Goats On The Go® delivers a valuable, professional service that requires significant cost and labor.
When you hire GOTG you get an insured, conservation-minded service provider that delivers a thoughtful strategy, not just a bunch of goats.
Can I rent your herd to mow my lawn/solar farm/pasture?
Think of goats as brush busters rather than lawn mowers. They will eat grass, but they really shine on dense weeds and brush. If your lawn is hopelessly overgrown and you’d like to get a fresh start, then goats would certainly help return it to a manageable state. Most customers, though, would not be satisfied with goats as an ongoing replacement for a lawn mower.
Some applications, like solar farms, call for a sheep-specific approach. Some of our affiliates offer this additional service under the Sheep On The Go® program, but we don’t… yet. 😉
Do goats stink? Are they noisy?
Your nose is unlikely to tell you there are goats nearby. Breeding males are smelly, and seduce their special lady friends with a weird whooping sound, but they are kept home on farm.
Goats, especially the little ones, make occasional noise, but most people find their bleats to be pleasant and certainly not a nuisance.
How do you keep the goats where you want them?
We use portable electric fencing and a solar-charged energizer to contain the goats. This allows us to be flexible. We can concentrate goats on small problem areas, move them from spot to spot, or let them roam whole properties. Fencing can be installed anywhere our crew of experienced hikers and climbers can access with a bundle of rolled up netting.
Do the goats stay overnight? Does anyone stay with the goats?
We’ll check on the goats regularly and carefully monitor the progress of the grazing project, but we don’t typically stay on-site constantly. The goats sleep under the stars on customers’ properties! The breed in our herd (Spanish) is known for being rugged and independent.
What about predators?
Goats have a lot of safety in numbers, and predators are very hesitant to attack a dense herd of dozens of horned animals. (Even the kids have “buttons!”)
We also know from sharing knowledge throughout our affiliate network that predators rarely work up the nerve to even think about attacking a herd until they’ve been stationary for a week or more. But 1) we move our goats around frequently, and 2) the fence administers a shock, dissuading aggressive predators.
(We would love to have livestock guardian dogs, but actually in this industry it’s impossible to find an insurer who will deal with the risks of putting guard dogs on land we don’t own.)
Are your animals used for meat?
It’s up to individual Goats On The Go® affiliates whether or not we produce meat in the off-season. The ones who do offer premium quality meat that is lovingly raised and fed a diet containing local invasive species, which contributes to the regeneration of native vegetation. What we’re saying is, we personally see virtues in this type of ‘product.’
Our personal choice is, we will not sell meat, but what little we produce we will give to our neighbors, staff, mentors, and others who have helped get this farm started.
We actually have a long-term goal of helping to start a program like Wyoming’s Food from the Farm + Ranch initiative here in New Mexico! We think producers (farmers and ranchers, conventional and organic alike) can do more to contribute to our state’s food insecurity crisis.
What are affiliates?
Goats On the Go® was founded in 2012 in Iowa, and grew quickly. They felt strongly that in providing this service to as large an area as they encountered demand, they would rather help many new ventures start up than employ a staff scattered around the country.
In 2016, GOTG began to develop a family of independently owned-and-operated businesses we call our ‘affiliate network.’ We receive live annual training, on-demand mentoring, and business tools, but we don’t give “corporate” a cut of our sales, and it’s nothing like a franchise. It’s more like how tow shops pay a small annual fee to be part of AAA, but day-to-day they run independent businesses.
If you’re interested in becoming one, introduce yourself! We want to help grow the network, because we have benefited from it so much. And affiliates near each other (in different parts of the country where the affiliate network is dense) sometimes work together on big projects. Goats at the Spaceport anyone!?