Vegetation Management with Small Ruminants

By Ken Andries 

Today there is a desire to control specific species of vegetation in many areas. In the past, control has often been done with the use of chemical controls, but this has not always been fully successful, and is not practical or safe in some locations. The use of mechanical control also has issues as it can create concerns with erosion and has to be repeated to get control for many years. An alternative to this that has been gaining momentum is the use of animals to graze or browse the vegetation to control it, called targeted or prescribed grazing.  

Prescribed grazing is the use of livestock to achieve desired vegetation management and landscaping goals.  This can be a reduction or control of invasive species such as Bush Honey Suckle, Multiflora Rose, or many other similar species. The landscape goals can include management of areas that are difficult or impossible to mow, preventing brush encroachment, or improving views. This is also a method that can be used to reduce fire risk by reducing the undergrowth to reduce fuel in case of a fire. 

Targeted grazing is very similar but is usually used when a specific species is the focus. A prescribed grazing plan is then developed for the target species to meet the goals and implemented. 

When considering using animals for vegetation management, it is important to remember what types of forage each species prefers to obtain the best control. Sheep and goats have a higher affinity for forbs and browse than cattle. As most of the plants that need to be controlled are in these two categories of forages, they tend to be the best choice for these practices. When given a choice, cattle will only consume about 15 % of their diet in forbs and another 15% in browse, while sheep prefer 30% forbs and 20% browse. Goats prefer browse at a rate of 60% and only 10% forbs according to many publications. In all, the other portion is grass.  

These values can differ based on individuals and in some cases breeds within the species. However, these are the general trends. While animals can be managed to consume a different balance than they prefer, this can result in greater risk of them getting out of their targeted area or consuming plants that are toxic. It is also important to remember that animals prefer to graze what is most familiar as well. Exposing them to plants they have never experienced, even if in the desired category, may not result in quick consumption of that species.  

Like any plan, the development of a prescribed grazing plan for vegetation management needs to start with goals. What is the targeted species and what level of control is desired? Be realistic with both and know that grazing, like all vegetation management practices, is not a “once and done” practice. It is also important to know that you may not be able to control the animal’s selection of species, so be aware of what else is in the area that may be targeted by the animals.  

In setting the goals, it can be important to do an inventory of the plant species, the slope, and other issues that may be in the area that will be targeted. Be aware that different species use shade, water sources, and other sensitive areas differently. Managing the amount of time they spend in an area will help control negative effects on these spaces.  

All animals need access to water and shade during the day. Sheep and goats are subject to greater predation than cattle, so having protection for them is important. Many areas that need vegetation management can have higher predator pressure as they provide greater cover for predators. If you are looking at doing this as a business, remember that people and their pets can be an issue when developing your plan. 

One of the biggest issues when planning vegetation management with livestock is determining the stocking rate and grazing time on an area. Like many livestock questions, the problem is there is a lot of variability that needs to be considered. Size of the animal does impact stocking rate as larger animals consume more forage. In most vegetation management situations, the animals cannot consume the whole plant being targeted, this impacts estimates of available forage.  

Animals prefer to consume the leaves and young stems of plants but sheep and goats usually leave the older stems of plants because the nutrition is lower or they are not able to bite them off. They also cannot reach above a specific height in the plant canopy.  

Your ability to determine the proper stocking rate and time to graze in an area will improve over time. To help get started there are several recommendations that are available. A good start is to take the number of acres and multiply by 8 and divide by the number of weeks you plan to graze the area.  As you gain more experience, you can adjust the number you multiply with based on your estimate of the available and usable forage. Be ready and willing to adjust the number of animals or the grazing time as needed to reach your goals. 

All other management needs to be done as would be normal for maintaining your normal herd. You need to do regular health checks on them. They need to be kept in good body condition as well. This is a concern as the nutrition value can differ by plant species and concerns over trash and toxic plants are greater when grazing areas normally used for this type of activity. In some cases, the location is also in greater public view, and this results in greater risk for many issues. Be sure your animals are in good condition and healthy when grazing in these areas. Be sure to label electric fencing if people may be near it. Keep fences clean and in good working order as well. 

There are a growing number of good resources in regard to targeted grazing. Some that I would recommend are: 

• Brush Control with Goats from the Kerr Center 

• Targeted Grazing with Goats and Sheep – Texas A&M Agrilife  

• Targeted Grazing: A natural approach to vegetation management and landscape enhancement – ASI 

Some common questions from people thinking about starting this type of business are related to the cost of setting up and possible returns. I have looked for this type of information, but it is difficult to find. Most of the research has been done out west and on larger areas using with larger herds. Some of the costs they have are related to moving large numbers of animals and the number of people and equipment needed to work on that size and scale. The issue with pricing is it also depends on the size and work involved as well as the topography of the land. Price also can depend on the goal of the grazing project.  

Some of the information is listed below, but to be clear, this is not intended to be a complete list.  

First, you will need to make sure you have the business and your animals insured and possibly bonded, local laws need to be consulted, and these can vary between all jurisdictions. Some towns have ordinances against livestock, so this has to be checked before you start a project or job. You must be insured in case your animals get out or damage something, including other people’s property. Include the equipment you plan to use and talk to your insurance company to make sure you are covered. I would also recommend consulting with a lawyer to make sure your contracts and other business aspects are set up correctly.  

You of course will need the animals, and the number needed can vary, as well as a place to keep them when they are not on a grazing job. You will need temporary fencing and fence chargers, solar ones for this type of work that are strong enough to do the job, and you will need a portable grounding system for them as well. You will also need a water trough and a tank to transport water in. You may be able to use water on site, but you need to have a backup system available. You will need a trailer and possibly need to leave it as temporary shelter for the animals on the job. Portable corals will also be needed to catch your animals at times or work them when needed, good for holding pens as well. The cost of these items will vary and most are good for several years.  

When looking at operating costs, to help calculate pricing, you need to remember to include all costs. This includes the share of the fixed costs of equipment and the operating cost. Some of the other costs include the insurance, fuel to travel to and from the locations, labor, feed (guarding animals as well as minerals for livestock), maintenance on equipment, vet cost, advertising, and don’t forget to include labor cost even if it is just your time. You would not do this for someone else for free.  

One caution I will give, if you already have animals that are part of a production herd, they may not be the best for this type of business. Most of these types of businesses are using wethers because they don’t need special care for lambing or kidding therefore you don’t have to deal with the young on the job. Starting postweaning and ending before lambing or kidding is possible, but it can limit some jobs.  

On the income side of things, the potential varies greatly. The internet will tell you that prices can be between $500 and $1000 per acre. However, these are usually larger projects for companies or government groups (local, state, or national) that need the area controlled. It can be more difficult to get high fees from private individuals or smaller companies. This is why it is critical for you to know your cost and base your pricing on that with some profit included. I recommend working with a business consultant, extension Ag Econ or KCARD, to help you establish a good working budget before starting and base your pricing on the budget. 

There are a number of individual producer/company pages that can be found with a quick google search. They can be used as a guide, but only as a guide. I was able to find one report from a research project from U. California can be found at: https://projects.sare.org/media/pdf/U/C/C/UCCE.Cost_.Study_Targeted.Grazing.pdf. There are a number for other types of grazing and livestock practices, but they seemed to lack financial analysis in the reports. 

If you are planning to start this type of business, you will need to advertise to find jobs. This can be the most difficult part of the business. Arranging to meet with the people and review the location is important. Time to do this as well as looking over the area needs to be calculated and planned as part of your budget. You need to be realistic and make sure the person you are working with understands that this process is not a once and done activity. This is true for chemical and mechanical practices as well. 

I mentioned vet cost as one of the things you need to include in the budget. I want to stress that animal health and the perception of how you treat your animals is critical. These businesses will be in public view on each job. If your animals appear sick, it can become an issue. Be sure your animals are monitored and provide medical assistance as soon as possible. Keep the animals in good health and have records. Use proper care and remove animals that are having issues as soon as possible.  

These types of businesses and the demand for the service is growing. It is a way producers can increase returns, but it has to be done correctly. As with any business, be sure to have a sound business plan, set goals, understand the business and process, and work to build and maintain a good reputation. This is not for everyone, and you will need to know the potential for this type of service in your area and how far you are willing to travel for it. Be aware of the risk, have proper agreements/contracts, and insurance coverage.  

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Dr. Andries was raised on a livestock and crop farm in Louisiana. He received his Ph. D from Kansas State University in Animal Genetics in 1996/ Dr. Andries served as an extension Small Ruminant Specialist for Kentucky through Kentucky State University for 17 years. He is currently the Chair of the Agriculture Sciences Department at Morehead State University. He has done work with meat goats genetics, management, and vegetation management while at Kentucky State University.