Comments on: Sheep: The new weapon against invasive plants http://earthsky.org/food/sheep-the-new-weapon-against-invasive-plants A Clear Voice for Science Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:17:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Glenn Hoffman http://earthsky.org/food/sheep-the-new-weapon-against-invasive-plants/comment-page-1#comment-14330 Glenn Hoffman Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:26:38 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5428#comment-14330 Employing sheep to control the visible aspect of plant management is great idea. There are obvious limitations where this can be done, but assuming you don't have neighbors that object, its ideal for the environment and the land owner. However, not sure the sheep would contain the invasive plants. Employing sheep to control the visible aspect of plant management is great idea. There are obvious limitations where this can be done, but assuming you don’t have neighbors that object, its ideal for the environment and the land owner. However, not sure the sheep would contain the invasive plants.

]]> By: futuRich http://earthsky.org/food/sheep-the-new-weapon-against-invasive-plants/comment-page-1#comment-11568 futuRich Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:07:31 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5428#comment-11568 Thats cool, and sounds a lot more eco-friendly to do it this way. I guess it's only plausible if you can manage taking car of all those sheep. Thats cool, and sounds a lot more eco-friendly to do it this way. I guess it’s only plausible if you can manage taking car of all those sheep.

]]> By: Benjamin Napier http://earthsky.org/food/sheep-the-new-weapon-against-invasive-plants/comment-page-1#comment-11567 Benjamin Napier Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:03:16 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5428#comment-11567 Jennnifer is correct. Managing the grazing of sheep is very important. The reason for many a range war in the Old West was becasue sheep herders allowed the sheep to absolutely wipe out the grazing land. Also, cattle don't like to brouse where sheep have been recently. Cattle, sheep and goats are all good tools to manage pasture land. They are the best way known to convert pow quality plant protein into high quality protein for humnans. Judicious use of grazing is important to prevent the destruction of perrenial planlife, though. Also, if grazing is allow to be too heavy prior to seed drop, annual plants will be eradicated as well. Chickens and geese can be used to weed gardens as well. Jennnifer is correct. Managing the grazing of sheep is very important. The reason for many a range war in the Old West was becasue sheep herders allowed the sheep to absolutely wipe out the grazing land. Also, cattle don’t like to brouse where sheep have been recently.

Cattle, sheep and goats are all good tools to manage pasture land. They are the best way known to convert pow quality plant protein into high quality protein for humnans. Judicious use of grazing is important to prevent the destruction of perrenial planlife, though. Also, if grazing is allow to be too heavy prior to seed drop, annual plants will be eradicated as well.

Chickens and geese can be used to weed gardens as well.

]]> By: Jennifer Leaf http://earthsky.org/food/sheep-the-new-weapon-against-invasive-plants/comment-page-1#comment-11566 Jennifer Leaf Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:48:29 +0000 http://208.96.63.114/?p=5428#comment-11566 They could heighten the weed control by adding a few goats to the flock of sheep. The two species prefer different plants; sheep will nip grass (and some broad leaved plants) right down to the ground while goats tend to browse and prune off the growing tips of broad leaved plants (and shrubs and trees), which can delay or even prevent a plant from setting seed if the animals are kept in the area until fall. Both should be used judiciously however, because of the risk of overgrazing. I would not recommend them on an extended basis for very steep or riparian areas due to the risk of overgrazing and negative impact. They could heighten the weed control by adding a few goats to the flock of sheep. The two species prefer different plants; sheep will nip grass (and some broad leaved plants) right down to the ground while goats tend to browse and prune off the growing tips of broad leaved plants (and shrubs and trees), which can delay or even prevent a plant from setting seed if the animals are kept in the area until fall. Both should be used judiciously however, because of the risk of overgrazing. I would not recommend them on an extended basis for very steep or riparian areas due to the risk of overgrazing and negative impact.

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