Goats and Poison Ivy

Ford Man · May 30, 2008

I have lots and lots of poison ivy in the fields and in the woods around my house.

Way too much to spray.

I have heard that goats will eat it up.

Anyone have any first hand experience ?

I could fence in sections one at a time as they eat it.

Please let me know .

Thanks !
Ford Man

Tradititonal Farmer · May 30, 2008

I have about 400 meat goats no Poison Ivy or Poision Oak in any of the fields they are in

Wild Bill · May 30, 2008

they will love every sliver of it.

Humans and some primates are the only mamals that are allergic to it, it is a tastie treat to the rest.

old · May 30, 2008

Goats just love the stuff. Plus if you drink there milk it will help you by making you immune to it.
Hobby farm

Ford Man · May 30, 2008

Thanks guys!

Sounds like I need to pick up a couple.

Is there anything special other than a shelter I will need to do to take care of them ?

Coloken · May 30, 2008

Don't know about goats, but wild antelop love bind weed.

steamnjn23 · May 30, 2008

Ihave a friend who borrowed some goats to clean off his fence row. you are right they will eat every bit of the poison ivy, but the problem is when they poop, you now have more than when you started.

that was his conclusion, because he moved the goats to a place where there was no poison ivy, and soon he had it there also.

Mike M · May 30, 2008

I have heard that too. My daughter had some pigmy goats and they seemed very fussy about what they ate. I'd get the regular size goats and try them.

old · May 30, 2008

You will need a fence that will hold water. Goats are known to be able to get out of almost any pen. I use hog wire type fence and even then once in a while have one get out
Hobby farm

Formerly PaMike · May 30, 2008

I had Holstein steers that ate the stuff!! Reached over the fence and ate it leaf by leaf off the fence posts!

IH2444 · May 30, 2008

Poision ivy seeds will come up for a year or two. to totally erradicate it you have to keep after it for at least 2 years and be sure and get the vines out of the trees or they will just reseed the area.

A tight spaced electric fence holds goats well.

IaGary · May 30, 2008

Cattle will eat it also. More so when it is young and tender.

Gary

Bus Driver · May 30, 2008

Yes, do get two or more. Goats do not do well as loners. They are herd animals for sure.

sammyd · May 30, 2008

We ran 3 strands of hot barb wire with 4' platic snow fence on the backside. Haven't had a goat get out yet. Even with their kids nearby in a different pasture.

Chris in MO · May 30, 2008

They will eat it, though it takes an unmerciful amount of time to kill off. Every summer we use electric fence to fence our milk goats on a brushy part of our fence bordering the road. This area has quite a bit of poison ivy. They do a great job clearing it out, though a lot of it comes back. (I guess just keep at it.)

Be careful, though. If these are animals you handle regularly, ie milking, then you are likely to get a dose of it off their coats.

I don't spray very much, but I do make exceptions with poison ivy,sumac and locust trees. The goats will work, but it will take a long time and if you're in a hurry then you might need to do some spraying.

Christopher

Chris in MO · May 30, 2008

For an excellent goat proof fencing system which is portable and oh so flexible, check Premier1 in Iowa.

Christopoher
Premier 1 Fences

Goats and Poison Ivy

Ford Man

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Tradititonal Farmer

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Wild Bill

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old

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Ford Man

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Coloken

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steamnjn23

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Mike M

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old

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Formerly PaMike

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IH2444

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IaGary

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Bus Driver

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sammyd

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Chris in MO

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Chris in MO

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