clearing land with livestock

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clearing land with livestock
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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 05 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: clearing land with livestock

leewrey wrote:

Hi, will sheep be okay to graze such enormous weeds, do you think?

I'm no expert on sheep, but I don't think they will graze big weeds at all. They like their grass, and they like it short. The ones I see all around me just graze around patches of thistles, nettles and the like.
If the land is really overgrown, I would think you will have to clear the big weeds before you can use it for sheep.

sprinter

Joined: 07 Aug 2005
Posts: 42

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 05 5:17 pm Post subject:

Hi,
Don't know about the special site stuff, but in respect of livestock.
Pigs will literally clear it for you. If you don't do anything with it for the following season you will just end up with a field of muck and thistles.

Most commercial breeds of sheep will only be interested in the grass and some shrubbery. Primative breeds, which are usually smaller as well, will also browse. They will take some of the weeds but not all.

Castrated male goats are your best bet provided the area is fenced off (but you would need that for any livestock anyway). They will take nettles, thistles, any overhanging shrubs dependant on the time of year. They will graze the grass but not as effectively or neatly as primitive sheep. A mixture of the two usually works very well.

As with any livestock you would have to make sure their are no poisonous plants on the area to be grazed, which may conflict with your site of special scientific interest.

@Calli

Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 1682
Location: Galway

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 05 10:03 pm Post subject:
Look no further than goats....we have two who are now qualified weed suppressant agents! Sheep like short sweet grass, but the goats eat all but the really woody spiky bitswhich are then easily got rid of...Pigs will trash the land whereas goats more light footed? Photos before and after????

alanb

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 20
Location: birmingham

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 8:10 am Post subject:

hi there i use 'chicken tractors' by intensivly running a dozen birds in a cage over veg beds we clear the ground and referitlise then they move on a liming and a mulch then means a light forking and the ground is ready for planting in spring.
all weeds have been cleared and the dandylions eaten b4 they go to seed.
there is an american book on permaculture called the chicken tractor but i cant remember by whom.
alanb

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 8:20 am Post subject:
Hi Alan - this looks like it? https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0962464864/qid=1127463638/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-6606739-1738049

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 8:33 am Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Wouldn't pigs completely trash the ground though? Sheep and cows are more usual, aren't they?

Trash it??? Never! The pig is the first thing I would put an a bit of land I wanted clearing - I wouldn't hesitate - they do a grand job.

We move our pig around to where we want clearing and not only does he deep-dig the soil (ready for planting veg) but he manures it as he goes. What more could you ask. Obviousely, as some have said above you would have to check that you are allowed to keep him on the site first. Second to the pig I would choose goats to clear a site (and some bloody good fencing to keep 'em in).

S

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 8:47 am Post subject:
andy lee has his own poultry forum all about chicken tractors if you are interested.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 8:58 am Post subject:

simon wrote:

Trash it??? Never! The pig is the first thing I would put an a bit of land I wanted clearing - I wouldn't hesitate - they do a grand job.

In my extensive experience

I agree, but Lee's patch, or parts of it, are SSSI and not only would I suspect there might be some rules about how much you can and can't do, but you would just want to make sure that they don't kill off anything.

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 05 9:36 am Post subject:

I heard too that saltmarsh sheep are exceptionally tasty - but I don't think that they will clear your land. Perhaps use them after the land has been cleared?
Pigs are probably your best bet, but I have no experience of keeping them - just know a friend who does.
I have goats, and they are clearing all my brambles at the moment. They will also eat docks (they love them), and nettles, but only when they have wilted.
They will need to be fenced in (of course), and you must make sure that there are no poisonous plants - yew, deadly nightshade, ragwort, etc.
If you buy a meat goat, such as the Boer, they will need no milking, and you can sell them for meat afterwards. Wethers will live well together, and also with a group of females.
You must also, of course, provide them with shelter, and keep their hooves trimmed (a monthly routine), as well as worming and vaccinating them.

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