Targeted grazing is the application of a specific kind of livestock at a determined season, duration, and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation or landscape goals. It is also known as “conservation grazing,” or “prescribed grazing" or "RX grazing."

We create smaller electro-netting paddocks within the area to be grazed so there is more competition within that space. The herd is moved to a new paddock once the preceding one is grazed down to about ~80%.

Micro-grazing means we service areas of 1-acre or less.

The controlled and monitored nature of targeted grazing separates it from the over-grazing that has, ironically, acquired a reputation for environmental damage in some parts of the U.S.

It's fortunate that many goat favorites are common nuisance or invasive species.  These include:

Poison oak & sumac

Black/Yellow/Wild Mustard

Honeysuckle

Thistle

Blackberry

English ivy

Wisteria

Ice plant

Cactus

Wild grasses and brush

Goats possess a unique characteristic that separates them from almost all other types of livestock. They would rather eat brush and weeds than grass. Goats like to eat at chin level and will always seek weeds and consume them first. Managed goat herds snap off and consume all the flower heads, then pick off the leaves, leaving a bare stock. Because the weed’s flower is eliminated immediately, it cannot go to seed, and without leaves it cannot photosynthesize and build a root system.

Goats are browsers, not grazers. This means that they eat different parts of woody vegetation. Browsers glean leaves, bark, and green stems from plants, while grazers clip vegetation at or near ground level. Goats like to eat at chin level and will strip shrubs and trees of leaves and twigs before they’ll turn to grass. Their preferences are woody plants first, then taller broadleaves or forbs, then clover, and grass last.

Goats have different teeth than grazers (horses, cattle, sheep, etc.) who clip vegetation at or near the ground level, with pointed cusps on the crowns that are effective in chewing softer plant materials such as leaves and herbs.

Grass will make up a relatively small portion of goat diets (about 10%).

Goats are not like beavers, they do not eat wood or stalks!

Contrary to popular belief, goats don’t eat everything. They are smart and usually know what will harm them. Other than plants that are dangerous, they usually don’t like to eat the following:

Foxtails

Pokeweed

Dove Weed

Stinging Nettles

Tree Tobacco

Moonflower

Caster Oil Plant

Manatoka

Plant stems (unless really pushed)

Some of the common plants in California that are poisonous to goats include:

• Rhododendron

• Oleander

• Hemlock

• Caster Beans

• Acucia

• Azalea

• Choke Cherry

• loco weed

• tree tobacco

The short answer is "yes." The vegetation will eventually grow back, just as it will with mechanical cutting and herbicide treatments. How quickly it returns and the amount of post-goat maintenance needed depends on how the goats are applied, the season in which they are applied, and the condition of the preferred vegetation in the area. We can help you formulate a long term strategy that matches your goals for your property.

Here are some things to remember if you’re considering goats as a vegetation management tool:

Multiple Grazings: First, if you have lots of brush, it may take more than one grazing to reduce the competition to the point where the native species can become predominant again.

For example, after an initial grazing of an invasive weed, some plants will re-sprout the following season. Then, after a second or third grazing, they will be weakened to the point where they will die and the desired species will be able to flourish.

Some Cleanup Required: Second, goats will strip the leaves but usually leave the bark or stems. After they eat all of your English ivy, for example, you can then remove the stems from your property.

Don’t Worry About the Seeds: Third, you may wonder if the seeds they eat are then digested and returned to the soil through their manure. The good news is that as the seeds pass through the goat’s digestive system, they are rendered sterile. So, there is no worry about those seeds resprouting because the goat’s manure placed them back into the soil.

Pro Tip: If you do have weeds that go to seed, be sure to have the goats come and graze before those seeds drop to the ground and reseed themselves.

Check out our pricing page to learn how we price our projects.

That depends on the density of vegetation and the size of the property.  Once we know more about your site and your goals we'll be able to give you an estimate. Projects taking more than 10 days per acre are rare. Generally, you can expect a short-duration service designed to get the job done quickly and efficiently while still giving you plenty of time to enjoy the process.

This depends on what your goals are or the grazing area. Typically, we recommend grazing 2-3 times the first year, 1-2 times the second year, and once a year after that.

We share North county with coyotes, large cats, and other amazing wildlife. We are often asked about concern for the goats being attacked by wild predators while on the job. But the truth is that not one goat has been attacked by a wildlife predator nationwide across all Goats On The Go herds! Our goats have horns, they band together and are not an easy target for wildlife predators. The electro-netting we use serves as a deterrent and there is talk radio playing on low at all times.

Your dog(s), your neighbor’s dogs and strays are the primary concern for our goats. Our customers are contractually obligated to keep their dogs under control as well as alerting your neighbors to control their dogs while the goats are working on their property. Our electro-netting also serves as a deterrent but it’s not fool-proof against one or more domestic dogs.

Our micro-grazing service is usually most cost-effective within our local area (92028, 92003). The larger the project the farther we can travel and still keep costs in line. As a Goats On The Go Affiliate, we are assigned a territory but please contact us even if you think you might be too far away.

Yes, our goats need to eat, but if we were only interested in putting weight on goats we would choose a much more efficient way to do it. We deliver a valuable, professional service that has real and significant costs if done the right way.

Local rules vary, so you'll need to check with your local jurisdiction.  Not every local government is familiar with targeted grazing, so let them know that you'll be hiring a short-duration, professional service rather than keeping livestock continuously on your property.  If you run into a road block, we can help. We have extensive experience working with local governments and homeowners associations, and we know zoning regulations inside and out.

We don't "rent out" small numbers of goats to customers for long stretches. Instead, we graze quickly and intensely with anywhere from 10 to upwards of 40 goats in a rotational, "mob grazing" style. This approach also comes with a high level of service and is usually quite labor intensive.  We do all the work so you can relax and enjoy the show.

Your nose is unlikely to tell you there are goats nearby.  Breeding males are odoriferous, but these will not be on your property.  Unlike other manure, goat poop doesn’t smell and it’s a highly coveted fertilizer by hardcore gardeners. Goats make a little noise, but most people find their bleats to be pleasant and certainly not a nuisance.

We use an all castrated male heritage breed of 100% San Clemente Island (SCI) goats. The SCI goat is a genetically distinct breed and are listed as a critically endangered heritage breed on the Conservation Priority List by The Livestock Conservancy. In 2020, their global population was about 1400. They originated from San Clemente Island California, but now live on the mainland U.S.A. and in Canada. They are great browsers and we are thrilled to be able to support this endangered breed and evangelize their special qualities to the general public as part of our work.

We use solar-powered electro-netting to contain the goats. This allows us to be flexible. We can concentrate goats on small problem areas and move them from spot to spot for targeted grazing across your project area.

We'll check on the goats regularly and carefully monitor the progress of the grazing project, but we don't typically stay on-site constantly.  Our goats often sleep under the stars on customers' properties, but depending on location and the anticipated length of stay we may take the goats home overnight or load them into our nearby trailer.

We can service projects outside our service area if their proximity is within reason and when we have other projects near that area. This is determined on a case by case basis. You can also use the HireGoats website to search for service providers in your area.

Yes. If you and your neighbors all have weed problems or want protection from wildfires, we’re happy to work with you as a group. We can save time and money by not having to set up separate electric fencing or transport the goats from one plot of land to another.

Our goats are working goats and not pets, therefore contractually you will not be interacting with them as they work. With that said, many of our customers have family and friends over for “watch parties” to fully enjoy their own private goat experience!

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FBG is a local affiliate of Goats On The Go®. Their growing national network of fellow affiliates serve as a tight-knit support group sharing vast knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas and solutions with the entire group. This work is not easy and it really does take a village!

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