| Sometimes stories come along that just catch my | | | | grazing level. The research being conducted at the |
| interest. I first heard about this on public television, that | | | | University of Kentucky will hopefully show how many |
| goats were being studied for Kudzu control in | | | | goats per acre are required for Kudzu eradication or |
| Kentucky. The University of Kentucky is studying the | | | | sustainable goat grazing levels. Studies have been |
| effects of goats grazing kudzu infested fields to see | | | | completed at NCSU that also included cattle in the |
| how many goats per acre are needed for kudzu | | | | grazing study. The cattle seemed to help with some |
| eradication or sustainable kudzu grazing for goat meat | | | | other invasive plants but by far the goats were the |
| production. After just a little research on my part, I | | | | best for Kudzu control. |
| have found that Mississippi, North Carolina and | | | | The advantage for the rancher trying to reclaim his or |
| Tennessee have or are performing investigative | | | | her land is, goats readily forage on Kudzu and currently |
| studies as well. | | | | goat meat is in high demand. With the large influx of |
| First let us look at what kudzu is and where it came | | | | immigrant populations on both coasts, goat meat is |
| from. Kudzu (pueraria montana pueraria lobata) is a | | | | experiencing a demand twice as high as the current |
| fast growing, invasive vine that can grow 12 to 18 | | | | supply. This is the win win situation for the rancher, |
| inches in one day during the peak growing season. It is | | | | Kudzu control through the use of goats that he or she |
| 22% protein, which the goats are able to digest and | | | | can then sell for a profit. Whether the rancher |
| convert to body mass growth. The studies from | | | | completely eradicates the Kudzu and then sells all of |
| NCSU have already shown that goats not only exist | | | | the goats or tries to maintain a sustainable grazing |
| but they thrive on the leafy vine. It is lacking in some of | | | | herd is now the ranchers choice. The one cost that |
| the micronutrients that the goats need for maximum | | | | must be figured in, is the cost for fencing. |
| health but that is easily overcome with feed | | | | Goats will need a fence that they can not escape out |
| supplements. Kudzu's quick growth and climbing ability | | | | of, such as woven wire or mesh fencing. If you are in |
| have literally made it a green monster, that if left | | | | an area with wild predators you will have to have a |
| unchecked it completely grows over everything in it's | | | | barn or enclosure that you can keep the goats in at |
| path. | | | | night and protect them from loose dogs as well. The |
| It can be controlled with expensive chemical | | | | cost of adding new fencing seems to be better |
| applications of herbicides but it takes many applications | | | | supported with the sustainable forage idea. The |
| and a lot of chemicals to get rid of kudzu once it is | | | | rancher could then receive an ongoing income from |
| established. Kudzu originally came to the United States | | | | the goat herd production with little nutritional costs to |
| in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. By | | | | maintain the goats. |
| 1900 it was being sold as an inexpensive livestock | | | | I just like to hear about research and ideas that are |
| feed and the USDA was using Kudzu for erosion | | | | sustainable and environmentally friendly as well. When |
| control. Since then kudzu has spread throughout the | | | | we can do something that tackles two needs |
| Southeast covering fields and forests in it's tentacle like | | | | simultaneously I say let's do it! Tackle the Kudzu |
| grip. The cost for landowners and government | | | | problem and fulfill the need for more goat meat, a win |
| agencies trying to combat this invasive plant can now | | | | win for the ranchers. All I have left to say is please |
| hopefully have a cheaper and more effective control | | | | pass the Chevon. |
| through the use of meat goats. It could possibly be a | | | | Here are some links to just a few of the research |
| win win situation for the landowner. | | | | articles that are available, also you can Google search |
| Instead of having to pay for chemical applications of | | | | for goat meat recipes and find that there is quite a bit |
| herbicides to control kudzu, meat goats could be | | | | of information available. |
| released to graze the kudzu either until it is eradicated | | | | North Carolina State Univ |
| or brought down to a controllable and sustainable | | | | Univ. |