Nebraska farmer Mike Wallace sent families of goats to pasture with his herd of cows and sheep and found the goats help control invasive cedar trees economically. The average goat will consume as much as 20 percent of its diet as cedar trees.
Eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, is a native invasive species of tree that causes problems on rangeland and in pastures. Grass fires historically prevented Eastern redcedar from becoming abundant but fire control has allowed the trees to expand quickly, converting rangelands into red cedar woodlands. The result can be as much as 75 percent loss of forage for livestock and wildlife <Link>.
Source: Nebraska Farmer, May 18, 2023. Link.
Researchers have shown that cedar intake is a heritable trait, and genetic selection for cedar intake can be improved with selective breeding or any breed or composite of breeds.” – Randy Saner