Miller, James H.; Manning, Steven T.; Enloe, Stephen F. 2010. A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 120 p.
Prescribed grazing is an approach that relies on cattle, sheep, goats, and horses to reduce infestations. Grazing is a potential control treatment when the invasive is palatable and the invasive plant is not poisonous to the animal. Cattle and horses are useful for many herbaceous invasive plants, while sheep and goats will feed on woody plants as well. Goats will defoliate and debark shrubs, saplings, and small trees to a higher level than sheep, even thorny vegetation. The animal species is important as is the breed, the best being those breeds that are larger and can handle difficult grazing and browsing conditions.
Care of the herd is critical, and must include regular inspections, treatment of injuries, vaccinations, and water supply. Both shock grazing and year-round grazing have been researched and used to limited degrees. Multiple years are required to achieve major invasive plant reductions and additional methods are required for restoration. Spring and early summer are critical times for goat and sheep control of invasive shrubs. The key to control is repeated heavy defoliation in spring and early summer without overgrazing grasses and legumes. Thus a rotation system works best. Using a mixture of goats, sheep, and cattle will provide the most effective clearing and subsequent plant kill, especially of multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murr.) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.). Goats are most useful for these woody species at 5 to 10 animals per acre during the first season, while fewer goats can be used after two or three seasons. All of these grazers and browsers have been used in kudzu control programs to varying degrees of success.
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