Goat Grazing

Upper Snake River CWMA

Goat Grazing

Goats have been used for targeted grazing of Leafy Spurge at the Cartier Slough Wildlife Management Area since 2001.

During this period Leafy Spurge feeding insects have also become established. Over time the change in the plant

community has been striking.

During 2007 the LEAFY SPURGE CONTROL AT CARTIER SLOUGH WMA PROJECT was completed in 45 days, using 658-

1,145 head of goats, all does and kids. Herding was done by foot and horse with the assistance of a herding dog and two

guard dogs A serious drought in 2007 resulted in significantly reduced grass growth and the leafy spurge plants were not

as robust as previous years. There was no measurable precipitation during the entire project, so the only summer re-

growth occurred in the low swales where spurge roots were down into the water table. The complete lack of spring

flooding in 2007 did have the benefit of allowing the bio-control insect populations to flourish this year. U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation helped fund this project again in 2007. A summary of this very successful seven-year project will be

presented in January 2008 at the Idaho Weed Conference. Herding was done by foot and horse with the assistance of a

herding dog and two guard dogs. Harassment by coyotes was a problem in two pastures in 2007, although the contractor

did not think any goats were lost to coyote predation.

The following is a picture of the Cartier Slough goat pastures grazed in 2007:

For more information or for goats to graze noxious weeds on private land contact Mark Harbough @ 652-7070 or

Other Sources:

Targeted grazing, "A natural approach to vegetation management" www.cnr.uidaho.edu/rx-grazing/Handbook.htm
Team Leafy Spurge "Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory" www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/ipmls.html