Frequently Asked Questions

• Grazing and Browsing: The livestock defoliate vegetation and nibble back woody stems, creating a reduction in overall fire fuel load. They are particularly gifted at suppressing ladder fuels.

• Trampling:  In large groups, hooves trample flammable vegetation and incorporate it into the soil.

• Soil Improvement: Droppings and urine increase soil moisture retention.

• Shift in Vegetation Species:  Soil quality improvement and trampling can create conditions for less-flammable vegetation to grow.

Generally spring through fall, but it depends on what’s growing. Some plants, such as blackberries and ceanothus, are extra vulnerable to the goats and sheep in winter. Poison oak is not palatable to the goats in early spring, but they’ll destroy it in high summer.

It’s important to be clear about what’s growing on your property and to work together to figure out what time of year is best to bring the livestock. 

Per acre, 20-30 hours of human labor goes into clearing and fencing the perimeter, moving the goats, and daily care. Then throw in the costs of veterinary care, supplementation of minerals and protein, dog feed, fuel, and equipment wear and tear. We must remain on call 24/7 in case of downed fences, a sick animal, or client concern.

Our working season lasts around six to nine months. The rest of the year we have to keep our goats in good shape, which during the winter requires a great deal of store-bought feed.

The vegetation growing in any one place may or may not have the nutrients required to keep the stock healthy.

Just like us, the animals eat the most easily accessible, calorie dense, delicious forage first. Once they’ve eliminated the “good stuff, “ the work of grazing can put them into an energy deficit, and progress slows.

They do a much better job on the vegetation overall when they are nutritionally supported with additional protein and calories.

Expect the goats and sheep to eliminate 75%-80% of the vegetation.

Some plants are more delicious and nutritive for the stock than others. Some plants have varying levels of toxicity depending on the time of year. This is why we make a plan for the best time of year to bring the livestock by.

The goal of land management using livestock is to drastically reduce the density of vegetation in large areas.

Goats will strip the bark of certain kinds of trees (particularly fruit trees) and will likely kill saplings.  This thinning contributes to overall forest health, but also means that goats are not appropriate for orchards, vineyards, and heavily landscaped areas.

Sheep can be a safe alternative for orchards and vineyards.

Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for preserving individual trees in a large grazing paddock, so if you have a number of trees on your property that are very precious to you, a human hand crew may be a better land management option.

It depends on your land management goals.

RLL is always happy to do a one-and-done grazing job for people who need to get their property firesafe for the year.

If  you are looking to radically change the ecological composition of your property, we can make a long-term plan.

We use portable, temporary electric fencing that is kept charged by a battery and solar panel.

It depends on the stock density and vegetation density. Weather and temperature also affect how hungry the animals are.

Generally, when the weather isn’t too hot, it will take about a week to clear an acre that’s never been grazed before.

Our livestock guardian dogs stay with the stock 24/7 and deter predators by barking and creating a scent. (You can read more about the dogs HERE.) The electric fencing can be a decent deterrent for smaller predators.

RLL is responsible for all animal care. We visit the property a minimum of once per day, usually in the morning. The sheep and goats are supplemented, the waters are refreshed, the dogs are fed and brushed, and the fence line is checked and maintained.

RLL is on call 24/7 for emergencies or concerns and will need 24/7 access to your property. 

We appreciate your awareness around situations like nearby fires, trees falling on fences, power outages, an obviously ill or injured animal, or persistent predators creeping around.

We ask to be notified ASAP if you see any of these things so we can troubleshoot. 

You could totally do that and it may be very rewarding. On the other hand, a smaller herd or flock will take longer to clear a property than a larger one, and will do a less thorough job.

Some expenses and responsibilities to keep in mind:

• Electric netting or goat-safe fencing and cross-fencing

• Veterinary care

• Barn or shelter for inclement weather

• Routine maintenance such as hoof trimming, ear-tagging, testing, and vaccines

• You may need to hire a farm-sitter for if you ever want to go out of town or if you are ill or injured

• These animals can live for 10+ years; it’s a long-term commitment

• We highly recommend a livestock guardian animal to reduce predation. This adds to expense and time for vet care, feed, and daily maintenance

• Will you be able to transport your livestock out if there is a fire or other natural disaster?