OT Goats [was: RE: [TheForge] Beware the quiet welder]

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

Frosty & James,

Thanks for the goat info.  I'm curious on behalf of my daughter and son-in-law and have not intention of actually owning a goat myself.  But, if they show an interest, I may contact Deb for a more serious discussion.

Aubrey

________________________________________
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jerry Frost [akfrosty at mtaonline.net]
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 1:15 PM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: OT Goats [was:  RE: [TheForge] Beware the quiet welder]

James covered it pretty well. Sheep and horses are
grazers, preferring grasses and other ground cover
while goats, like deer are browsers preferring broad
leaf plants, bark and the like. Check with the local ag
extension service about goat poisonous plants you may
have on the land.

They'll also need some cover in bad weather, clean
reliable water source, supplemental feed, minerals and
regular vet checks and predator protection of some
sort. Other than that goats are pretty tough critters
and will happily kill anything edible including your
MOST prized ornamental plants. Trees are toast.

If you have more specific questions contact me on the
side and I'll put you in contact with Deb, she's the
expert and undoubtably knows a reliable goat breeder in
your area.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.


From: "Washington, Aubrey O." <awashington at ou.edu>


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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