Tropical grassland management

Hi all,

I am a novice at all this farming and would appreciate some advice about managing grassland.  We have 6 dry hot months where there is no grass.  Then it rains, the grass grows and for a few weeks is perfect for the goats.  However, it grows so fast that it quickly goes to seed so by the time the goats get moved to a new fresh piece of land, the stems are tough and chewy which they don't seem to eat, and the grass has gone to seed.  

Anyone got advice or experience on how to graze goats in this climate?  I was hoping to use them to keep the grass down, but it looks like we are going to have to cut it after all...........

Thanks for any tips

Katharine

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Replies

  • Deborah, I've been pondering your comments, thank you, and I'll see what I can do by getting them to work on a smaller section and see if I can keep it down using them.  I have so many plants growing that they don't eat, though!  Since writing I got a sheep too as someone said they eat more species, but I don't have  a trim lawn yet, far from it!  They all just pick and choose, and leave a lot.  I'll keep working on it!  Thanks, Katharine

  • You really should try to keep them off a piece of land for about 6 weeks minimum to avoid parasite issues, but if they aren't eating the grass shorter than 6 inches, that also helps. The larvae don't have a means of locomotion, but they can float up on wet grass (from either rain or dew), which is why they are not a problem with taller grass.

    No one plants pasture for goats because they generally love the stuff that grazers dislike, such as weeds and small bushes, and usually invasive species. So, no one is going to plant floribunda roses in their pasture. People get goats to eradicate those plants -- and they do a great job of it. I haven't seen one of those bushes in years on our place, and they used to be everywhere. They also love poison ivy, which probably doesn't even grow in your corner of the world. 


  • Thank you Rosalyn, I watched it too and its really interesting.  I have moveable fences which I move every day or 2, and I think perhaps this is imitating this system a bit.  However, it doesn't keep grass down evenly like I was hoping as my goats are fussier than I expected!!


    Rosalyn Abbott said:

    Katharine, I recently watched this Ted Talk video regarding arid grassland management using ungulates to prevent desertification, with research done specifically in Africa.  Now, you can google Allan Savory and be taken to his institute's website, as well as a lot of discussions that are both positive and negative about his research.  His theory seems to be controversial, with very little published in peer reviewed journals and nothing in recent years, but I still think it is an interesting topic and perhaps one that should be studied more.  Perhaps interesting for you anyhow!


  • Thank you Deborah for this food for thought.  Do people generally try to change what grasses grow naturally in their fields in order to grow ones that are suitable for goats?  And secondly, re the 8-16 paddocks system of grazing to prevent grass going to seed, does that leave enough time between grazings (8-16 days) to prevent parasite build up?


    Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

    Goats are not the best grazers anyway. They prefer weeds and small bushes. It sounds like you've done what you could to utilize the grass. They say that the faster the grass grows, the quicker you should move them, so in  your case, maybe only keeping them in one area for a day or two. They probably won't be able to control all of your grass, but the goal would be to keep them in an area (something like only 8 to 16 paddocks) where they can keep the grass clipped enough that it doesn't go to seed. At least that works in the U.S. :) Your situation may be more challenging.

  • Katharine, I recently watched this Ted Talk video regarding arid grassland management using ungulates to prevent desertification, with research done specifically in Africa.  Now, you can google Allan Savory and be taken to his institute's website, as well as a lot of discussions that are both positive and negative about his research.  His theory seems to be controversial, with very little published in peer reviewed journals and nothing in recent years, but I still think it is an interesting topic and perhaps one that should be studied more.  Perhaps interesting for you anyhow!

  • Goats are not the best grazers anyway. They prefer weeds and small bushes. It sounds like you've done what you could to utilize the grass. They say that the faster the grass grows, the quicker you should move them, so in  your case, maybe only keeping them in one area for a day or two. They probably won't be able to control all of your grass, but the goal would be to keep them in an area (something like only 8 to 16 paddocks) where they can keep the grass clipped enough that it doesn't go to seed. At least that works in the U.S. :) Your situation may be more challenging.

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