Botanical Beast Kudzu A Force To Be Reckoned At U.S. Army Posts

AP/Boston Globe ^ | 8/23/2002 | Bill Baskervill

[cva66snipe]

Would it be a violation of the Geneva Protocols to drop kudzu shoots on Iraqi military bases?

I think if there's one single particle of dirt it would grow there. Of course we drop water bombs to make certain it grows & prospers. Geneva Convention what do they care it's only for so called civilized nations anyway :>}

[WorldWatcher1]

Flame throwers

The army used them against giant ants in Them!, logically, they should be used against giant plants.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The Ants in France dance mainly on the Plants.

[Ditter]

I guess cows won't eat it or we would have heard about it by now. I wonder why? Cows will even eat poision ivy

[cva66snipe]

I guess cows won't eat it or we would have heard about it by now. I wonder why? Cows will even eat poision ivy

I'm not sure but I do know a goat can eat what would kill a cow. Even wilted wild Cherry will only make a goat sick just a few bites will take out a bull very quickly. Goats are low maintenance and pretty much self sufficent. All is needed is a few shelters from storms and a minimum ammount of water. During the summer they actually drink less than in the winter. Their water comes from plants and dew.

[EggsAckley]

Re: Goats

In Oakland CA the city wanted to eradicate a bunch of acres of weeds in the hills, so they hired the Goat Guy with about a thousand goats. Took them just several days to do what humans would have taken weeks to accomplish. So the Union sued the goat guy and said his goats put people out of work, and they have to be paid union wages and pay union dues. hehehehehe

[Ditter]

I'm guessing NOTHING will eat it, or it would be happening. People would import kangaroos or camels or ANYTHING to eat this stuff down.

[mhking]

"Kudzu laughs at your "RoundUp" - it is tasty and it tickles Kudzu's nose. Bring it on. Kudzu will wait for you."

[mhking]

Kudzu is the closest thing I can think of to some of the vegetation discussed in David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr series.

In that series, an alien ecosystem invades Earth, establishing itself in varying degrees in various places around the globe, transforming the natural landscape over a period of years. The largest problem is that 90% of the life (both plant and animal) that establishes itself is carniverous.

[ArrogantBustard]

According to This article

Researchers, at Fort Valley State University in Georgia, have found that kudzu contains many nutrients goats need. The plant is high in digestible and crude protein, which will make for a very happy goat. Given the choice between grass and kudzu, researchers say goats will pick the kudzu every time.

Other internet sources suggest that llamas will chow down on the stuff, too. I suspect there's a business opportunity, here, for somebody to take advantage of.

[Ditter]

Ah! Cabrito! Goat is good!

(Maybe eating kuduz makes the meat taste crappy.) ;9[

[Isle of sanity in CA]

Doesn't the Army have any Agent Orange left?

[cva66snipe]

Goats are a little picky. They actually like or prefer bitter plants but will eat about any plant and tree bark. They love Schumate also. But as for the tin cans and stuff? I suppose if it was the last food source avaiable they would eat it but I've dropped wrappers ect only to find them intact the next day.

As for treats to tame and work with them saltines and Corn Chips are favorites. I also personally would not debud {dehorn} them. A doe or wether is not likely to butt you and when doing exams it gives you a tool to control them by. You grab the horns and the goat can be controlled.

I have about 14 Nubians 8 of which are this years kids. The buck is half Seenan and half Nubian. If you live in a rural or wooded area subject to hunting I say get goats that are mostly white. Someone snuck a half grown Pygmy into my heard a few weeks back. No family or friend has owned up and I know of none nearby raising them.

Unless a person is a breeder I recommend does and wethers. Billy's can be a bit harder to deal with and during mating season for Nubians {winter} become somewhat aggressive.

[xJones]

Would it be a violation of the Geneva Protocols to drop kudzu shoots on Iraqi military bases?

Iraq's not a signatory. Let's get 'em. Sure, Iraq is largely a desert country, but.....they don't know kudzu.

[Cachelot]

As for treats to tame and work with them saltines and Corn Chips are favorites

Heh. Haven't been around goats since I was a kid, but tobacco used to be wildly popular. The stronger the better.

[Let's Roll]

I'll never forget my first sight of Benning kudzu. You can practically see it grow.

[Robert_Paulson2]

perhaps if we reclassified it as hemp....

we could wipe it out.

[Xaverri]

Oh my god! It's the predecessor to Little Shop of Horrors!!

[THE Aardvark]

I talked to a goat farmer last year and they said that they sell all they can breed to hispanics and other immigrants who find goat meat quite tasty. There was even an article in the local rag this week on goat farming. Maybe I should buy some goats, find someone with a kudzu infested field, and turn them loose. Fatten them up for market, and then sell them. Sounds good to me. Now, who will finance this enterprise with me?

[cva66snipe]

You really need Boer goats for that. Nubians are dairy goats. But I hear there's a lot of money in goat milk and goat milk doesn't have to be pasturized to be safe.