Are You a Candidate for Goats in The Woods?

Considerations for the Forest Owner:

• Have you explicitly defined your ownership objectives? Do your objectives include a management activity that will significantly alter the “look” of your forest understory? How much are you willing to pay for this type of management?
• What is your desired “look” of your understory? Goats can have a dramatic impact in some types of forests. What do you want your forest to look like?
• What tree species exist in your forest? Goats are selective browsers and will favor some tree species over others. For example, some forest owners may want goats to browse and girdle (“de-bark”) red maple whereas other forest owners want to keep the red maple. Tree species that goats will readily girdle include: striped maple, red maple, yellow birch, black birch, hemlock, pine, larch, witch-hazel, hophornbeam, hornbeam, white ash, and black cherry. The rougher bark of mature trees is usually not eaten by goats.
• How much browse is available for goats? If you have had a timber harvest in the last 5 to 7 years you probably have sufficient browse. Goats can have a more dramatic impact on areas recently harvested, but on more mature areas there is less browse to support the goats. “Good” goat brush will have at least 9,000 stems per acre with stems that are more than 2 feet tall and less than 8 feet tall.
• What access roads do you have? Good forest roads and skid trails facilitate transporting goats into the woods and make the daily feeding and watering of goats easier. During harvest planning your forester can design skid trails for easier future access with goats and for fencing.
• How do you define success when you think about having goats in your woods? Get a clear understanding of reasonable expectations for goats to minimize your frustration in what goats will or won’t do. Know what your needs are before discussing a relationship with a goat producer.

Considerations for the Goat Producer:

• How will you define “success” from a goats-in-the-woods enterprise? Why are you considering goats-in-the-woods? Do you just need more land to hold goats until market? Do you need a specific amount of revenue per acre treated? Do you have a desired weight gain per day per animal? Know what your needs are before discussing a relationship with a forest owner.
• Does the forest or woodlot have easy access? Daily requirements for feed and water will be easier if you can get close to the paddock. Roadside access is nice if the animals are safe and not overly visible to frequent traffic.
• How much browse is available for the goats? “Good” goat brush will have at least 9,000 stems per acre with stems that are more than 2 feet tall and less than 8 feet tall. Goats in brush of mature woods will require a daily TMR supplement with sufficient crude protein levels for reasonable weight gains. Goats in brushy pastures may not need any or as much supplement.
• Is the forest in a secure area away from human vandals or loose dogs? How close is the landowner and will they provide some security? The electric net paddocks have proven effective at excluding coyotes during research and demonstration field trials, but carefully evaluate risk factors.
• How many hours per week can you devote to daily maintenance and paddock moving? With abundant forage (more than 20,000 stems 2’-8’ tall per acre) a ¼ paddock having 20 goats will move every 7-10 days and require 2-4 hours depending on soil, terrain and vegetation. Larger paddocks are more time and effort efficient. If you have other livestock on your farm, will you have enough time to travel to a remote facility?
• Do you have equipment to aid in easily putting goats and fence into woods? You’ll be well served to have a functioning 4wd truck, chain saw, brush saw, tractor/brush hog, and/or 4WD ATV.