[TheForge] sheep and goats

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

James,

I like the way you think!  We could keep a couple of Spanish goats during the spring, summer while all the undesirables are growing.  Then in the fall or winter we could have all our friends over for a couple of goat roasts.  Cabrito!  Yum...

BTW, I grew up in far South Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.  Got my first college degree at UT, Austin.

Aubrey

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From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Cindy and James [jallcorn at suddenlink.net]
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 6:42 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] sheep and goats

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
>
>
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