http://homesection.com/2009/03/08/goats-in-benicia/ Just another realestatetomato.net weblog Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:20:21 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://homesection.com/2009/03/08/goats-in-benicia/comment-page-1/#comment-13525 Paul Reeve Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:20:21 +0000 http://homesection.com/?p=1944#comment-13525 My two concerns about this practice are (1) whether-or-not there are endemic plants that are in anyway threatened by the feeding habits of goats, which are quite voracious feeders, as well as endemic fauna which could depend on endemic plantlife, and (2)that the voracious feeding habits of goats tend to lead them to over-graze, unless most carefully managed (hence the need for a shepherd, I know, both to protect the goats and to protect the leand), which in this neighborhood could easily lead to erosion problems as a consequence of loss of soil-holding vegetation. These hills could be expected to have bunch grass, if it were restored, and coyote bush, if the goats were not to eat it, as I think that they do, given the opportunity, both of which are erosion control plants as examples of a host of such plants. $700 and acre? Does it really cost that much to mow? Sounds like an opportunity for somebody, and I really wonder why one pays a goat herd owner to mow, when most herd animal owners pay to secure grazing rights. My two concerns about this practice are (1) whether-or-not there are endemic plants that are in anyway threatened by the feeding habits of goats, which are quite voracious feeders, as well as endemic fauna which could depend on endemic plantlife, and (2)that the voracious feeding habits of goats tend to lead them to over-graze, unless most carefully managed (hence the need for a shepherd, I know, both to protect the goats and to protect the leand), which in this neighborhood could easily lead to erosion problems as a consequence of loss of soil-holding vegetation. These hills could be expected to have bunch grass, if it were restored, and coyote bush, if the goats were not to eat it, as I think that they do, given the opportunity, both of which are erosion control plants as examples of a host of such plants.
$700 and acre? Does it really cost that much to mow? Sounds like an opportunity for somebody, and I really wonder why one pays a goat herd owner to mow, when most herd animal owners pay to secure grazing rights.

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