Goat Brushing in Forestry

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     Goats prefer to browse on herbaceous vegetation and deciduous trees, this clears out the lower canopy allowing crop trees to compete during the growing season.  Goats will defoliate and girdle deciduous trees like alder, aspen and poplar,  sapping the energy from these trees making  it harder for them to survive the winter.  

     Fertilization is a recognized Forest Carbon Initiative activity that will increase carbon sequestration and tree performance.  Goats brush and fertilize at the same time; biologically processing  hazardous vegetation back into the soil. This increases soil biomass (carbon) and biological activity to make the landscape more resilient and productive.

     Finally the goats are delivering a tremendous amount of renewable, kinetic energy to forest floor, our 190 goats (12 000+lbs) are constantly trampling and degrading dry surface fuels, which reduce the fire hazard and speed their decomposition back into the soil.

     Goats cover the landscape, on hills and slopes with millions of little hoof prints that create a dimpling effect.  When it rains water is trapped in these little pools and is less able to "Run-off".  This dimpling effect improves the ability of the soil to retain water.