Using Goats, Not Chemicals, to Kill Weeds

Bend Bulletin ^ | March 15. 2010 | Kimberly Bowker

[hiredhand]

Goats are actually QUITE good at weed control. But I don’t entirely agree with the article. If I remember correctly, milkweed is toxic to goats, as is hemlock. But they’ll try ANYTHING once! We have at least two every spring that we have to treat for bloat because they ate too much of something “new” and green. :-)

[stboz]

Uh, seeds have a certain property.....

After passing through the disgetive tract, and when they "fall to the ground."...they germinate.

Presto! More weeds.

[chesley]

Now the more important question. How does kudzu-fed goat compare in taste with commerical after proper barbecuing? :)

[chesley]

Actually, come to think of it, kudzu is edible by humans, and, I think, is eaten by them in Asia, from whence it came.

[csmusaret]

It is eaten deep fried every year at the Kudzu Festival in Waxhaw, NC.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Actually, come to think of it, kudzu is edible by humans, and, I think, is eaten by them in Asia, from whence it came."

The leaves are indeed edible, but not all that tasty and rather tough. Kudzu starch from the roots is highly coveted in Asian cooking and is pretty pricey when you can find it in a specialty store. Personally, I'll stick with arrowroot starch from Penzeys (far superior to corn starch).

No kidding though, goats love kudzu and are very good at controlling it. You would need to supplement their diet, however, to keep the critters in optimum health.