Thursday, June 29, 2017

Learn More About Invasive Species Control Using Goats

By Jessica Cox


Some species grow without control and even in the worst weather conditions, they do not stop multiplying. This growth is challenging especially if you are trying to get rid of them. Leading state corporations and institutes conducting research have worked hard to get a solution to put non-native species under control and one of the recommendations is invasive species control using goats.

Invasive types can either be animals or plants whose origins are not of that particular area but result in extreme impact to the bioregion they encroach. They are threatening to biological diversity and cause loss of land in different land masses. For example, browsers can be really effective in suppressing non-native vegetation if they have covered a large area of land utilized by them.

Some plant forms are poisonous making other animals unsuitable, however, a goat can resist harm from any poisonous plants. Goats can, therefore, feed on any invasive plant that no other animals can feed on. A goat can eat almost everything. If you want to control non-native plants you can introduce a flock of goats to eat all the plants.

Some animals eat seeds and later excrete the seeds as a whole, which allows them to regrow and spread. This is always a challenge in control of certain weeds and introduced species. But flocks are special in that once they consume such seeds; the seeds are completely destroyed by the digestive system of the goats and cannot regrow again. The most efficient way of controlling such forms of plants is to destroy the seeds, and that is why a flock is effective.

If you do not have a flock in your home there are farmers who can hire theirs to feed on the plants. The flocks come to your farm for a given period of time and after feeding on the plants they can be taken back to the owner. The owner of the flock cannot charge an exorbitant price because he will consider that the flock has gotten a source of food. Chemicals have a negative impact hence goats are an ideal choice.

Compared to other biological techniques, they can be beneficial because they convert weeds and brush into products that can be sold. Moreover, they can graze at the same time with the cattle. Additionally, goats are more resistant to secondary plant compounds. Although they do not graze homogenously, they can reach branches that are taller by standing on their hind leg or climbing. Moreover, they have tapered mouths that chew off branches and strip leaves.

The animals move in large numbers and they socialize at a high level. Since they are large in numbers they can step on weeds and reduce their spread. The animals have small hooves and they cannot erode the soil like cattle. Their droppings make the soil fertile as they move around. Herbicides have a negative effect on the environment making the flocks the best approach to control unwanted plants species.

Because of the different protocol signed by different leaders around the world concerning environmental management, it is prudent to adopt biological control techniques such as the use of goats to suppress the growth of infringing plants. This is due to the fact that it is cost effective contrary to mechanical techniques.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment