[TheForge] sheep and goats

[Cindy and James]

I grew up on a ranch in Central Texas, raising sheep and goats ... sheep 
are happier with grass but goats, like deer, prefer the leaves and bark 
of certain plants to just plain grass (but do eat grass).  Goats are 
generally smarter than sheep.  I am happier having neither of them any 
longer!!!  The plants you mention (I don't know about Cottonwood) would 
be excellent for goats, just don't put more goats on the place than the 
tract can handle, i.e. don't overgraze.  Keep out free choice salt and 
minerals too.  You may need to feed some in the winter months.  If you 
buy Spanish goats, they make really good eating, especially barbecue.
James
>
> Frosty,
>
> Do goats prefer to eat shrubs or pasture grass?  The reason I ask is my daughter and son-in-law have horses.  They also have 20 acres that is mostly overgrown with black jack oak, cottonwood, redbud, poison ivy, sumac, etc.  They are gradually trying to clear parts of it for horse pasture.  But, almost as soon as they clear an area, the voluntary trees and shrubs start to come back before they get the pasture grass growing.
>
> I was just wondering if a couple of goats would eat the saplings but leave the grass alone.
>
> Aubrey
>   
>