Goats Verses Kudzu

Ottobre 13, 2009 | Eco News, Environment

Sometimes stories come along that just catch my interest. I first heard about this on public television, that goats were being studied for Kudzu control in Kentucky. The University of Kentucky is studying the effects of goats grazing kudzu infested fields to see how many goats per acre are needed for kudzu eradication or sustainable kudzu grazing for goat meat production. After just a little research on my part, I have found that Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee have or are performing investigative studies as well.

First let us look at what kudzu is and where it came from. Kudzu (pueraria montana pueraria lobata) is a fast growing, invasive vine that can grow 12 to 18 inches in one day during the peak growing season. It is 22% protein, which the goats are able to digest and convert to body mass growth. The studies from NCSU have already shown that goats not only exist but they thrive on the leafy vine. It is lacking in some of the micronutrients that the goats need for maximum health but that is easily overcome with feed supplements. Kudzu’s quick growth and climbing ability have literally made it a green monster, that if left unchecked it completely grows over everything in it’s path.

It can be controlled with expensive chemical applications of herbicides but it takes many applications and a lot of chemicals to get rid of kudzu once it is established. Kudzu originally came to the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. By 1900 it was being sold as an inexpensive livestock feed and the USDA was using Kudzu for erosion control. Since then kudzu has spread throughout the Southeast covering fields and forests in it’s tentacle like grip. The cost for landowners and government agencies trying to combat this invasive plant can now hopefully have a cheaper and more effective control through the use of meat goats. It could possibly be a win win situation for the landowner.

Instead of having to pay for chemical applications of herbicides to control kudzu, meat goats could be released to graze the kudzu either until it is eradicated or brought down to a controllable and sustainable grazing level. The research being conducted at the University of Kentucky will hopefully show how many goats per acre are required for Kudzu eradication or sustainable goat grazing levels. Studies have been completed at NCSU that also included cattle in the grazing study. The cattle seemed to help with some other invasive plants but by far the goats were the best for Kudzu control.

The advantage for the rancher trying to reclaim his or her land is, goats readily forage on Kudzu and currently goat meat is in high demand. With the large influx of immigrant populations on both coasts, goat meat is experiencing a demand twice as high as the current supply. This is the win win situation for the rancher, Kudzu control through the use of goats that he or she can then sell for a profit. Whether the rancher completely eradicates the Kudzu and then sells all of the goats or tries to maintain a sustainable grazing herd is now the ranchers choice. The one cost that must be figured in, is the cost for fencing.

Goats will need a fence that they can not escape out of, such as woven wire or mesh fencing. If you are in an area with wild predators you will have to have a barn or enclosure that you can keep the goats in at night and protect them from loose dogs as well. The cost of adding new fencing seems to be better supported with the sustainable forage idea. The rancher could then receive an ongoing income from the goat herd production with little nutritional costs to maintain the goats.

I just like to hear about research and ideas that are sustainable and environmentally friendly as well. When we can do something that tackles two needs simultaneously I say let’s do it! Tackle the Kudzu problem and fulfill the need for more goat meat, a win win for the ranchers. All I have left to say is please pass the Chevon.

Here are some links to just a few of the research articles that are available, also you can Google search for goat meat recipes and find that there is quite a bit of information available.

North Carolina State Univ
Univ. of Kentucky

Hello I am Joel Murray the author of this article. I hope you have found the information interesting, I have several other articles posted here at ezine or you can visit my blog at http://www.plantgreenearth.com/blog enjoy, and have a great day.

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