The electric netting type fencing works if properly set up. A visiting “Extension Expert” gave a talk with photos, of using browsing goats to clear a wooded area at a horse farm. Owner had requested help in brush clearing without pesticide use, for this large area. Too big for one person to control with just trimming. Have to say the ending results were amazing!
The speaker emphasized that the goats used were not pets, had been raised with a herd that browsed on “rough” ground with bushes, weedy plants as feed. They had to hunt to find such goats, since most herds are closely managed for meat or dairy production. Then they had shipped the goats to Michigan to use them in this study in land clearing… Browsing goats literally ate everything they found chewable, did not expect grain or soft hay as food. They stood on hind legs to browse low branches, vines, bushes.
My gardening friend also uses a couple small goats to browse her areas of poison ivy, weeds, on the property, but it is not heavily overgrown lIke the woods owner had. Her goats do a good job for her needs. She also uses the electric net fencing. Has been very happy with it containing her goats and keeping out their predators in her neighborhood.
The browsing goats were contained inside the netting fence, which also protected goats from predators of coyotes and wandering dogs out in the woods. Netting fences were moved regularly to allow browsing of new areas, in cleaning the wooded area. Photos showed naked ground, only tree trunks visible when goats were moved to another location. No electric plugs out in the woods for the net fences! So I expect they used solar power and had battery backup, since Michigan is not known for being a reliable solar producer. Too cloudy a lot of the time. Fences were kept hot ALL the time for safety of the goats. Goats were checked twice a day, letting them out in bigger electric net fenced pasture. Then putting them in again, in a much smaller space at night, so they had a double net, electric fence for protection.
The study was rated a success, with goats cleaning the woods of underbrush over time. Grazed locations stayed clear for a long time, got regrazed as needed to stay cleared. Owner was happy with the goat system, despite the extra care needed to keep them safe, contained as they got worked browsing thru her woods. They are very happy with cleaned wooded area. Have not lost any goats to predation using the electric net fences.
