Environmental Planning • Habitat Restoration • Biological Resources • Vegetation Management • Regulatory Compliance • Goat Grazing

Goat Grazing is Effective and Efficient

The work that our goats perform is managed from an environmental science and regulatory compliance perspective.
Targeted grazing is conducted to meet regional/local conservation plan goals.

Goat Grazing for Wildland Management
Goats-Grazing-Steep-Hill
Great Pyrenese Guard Dogs

Wildland Vegetation Management

  • Goats effectively and efficiently remove target plants using specific grazing techniques.
  • Exact timing for deploying the herd, coupled with strategically placed fencing, ensure that weeds are controlled while desired plants are left intact.
  • Sage pays close attention to the uniqueness of each site and plant species.
  • Sage continually monitors grazing progress. When goats accomplish goals set by the Land Manager, we remove them.
  • Once first year grazing is complete, we evaluate whether targeted 2nd and 3rd year invasive control is needed using grazing, machines, hand removal, or herbicide application.
  • Terrain that is steep or otherwise difficult to access poses no challenge for the goats.
  • The overall cost for grazing a site is economical when compared to other methods. In many cases, cost can be lower.

Fuel Load Reduction

  • Managing fuel load is an important component for Fire Authorities and Land Managers, particularly in a wildland/urban interface.
  • Goat grazing targets and consumes unwanted vegetation, leaving behind cleared terrain. Whereas, cutting vegetation with machines or hand tools leaves behind downed biomass to be removed.
  • Goat grazing avoids the danger of fires caused by accidental sparking from tools or equipment.

Ecosystem Benefits From Grazing

  • Controlling invasive plants prior to setting seed reduces the amount of weed seed in the soil bank, leading to successful control of the target species.
  • In grassland areas with heavy invasion of non-native grasses, goats dethatch allowing native grasses to recover.
  • Removing undesired vegetation boosts native species by freeing up water and nutrient resources that otherwise would be used by competing invasive plants.