From providing milk, cheese, meat, fiber, and even therapy to foraging, browsing, and acting as mascots, goats have many varied and extensive jobs and it’s a great time for these adorable ungulates, as goats are called in the science world. We can’t seem to get enough of their personalities, especially with accompanying talking (i.e. bleating). Scientists have even suggested that goats could rival dogs in forming an emotional bond with their owners.
Foragers, Weed Wackers, Browsers
Goats are increasingly being used as an environmentally-friendly form of weed eradication, and even for devouring dry grasses to prevent forest fires, such as in the 2019 California Easy Fire. Goats helped save the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library by eating the brush, creating a fire break that slowed the flames and gave firefighters extra time to react.
Mary Bowen’s farm, Prosperity Acres, in Sunderland, Maryland, is home to what she terms “the browsing goats.” She calls each of her 60 goats by their own name as they control invasive species in and around Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. waterways. Bowen sets the goats up with temporary electric fencing in the area that needs to be cleared and, in a few days, the goats have devoured all the unwanted vegetation. Bowen explains, “Hiring goats for land clearing is good for your health—they are sustainable, environmentally-friendly, fun, and they create community. But most of all, their use is earth-friendly. No need for spraying herbicides. Goats browse/graze in places where mowers and humans can’t go. They eat a wide range of invasive species, including poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, kudzu, oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose, Japanese honeysuckle, wisteria, knotweed, phragmites, briars, honeysuckle, and much more. Long-legged goats can stand on their hind legs and reach up to six feet for vines growing up trees.”
When Bowen and the browsing goats travel to an offsite job, the goats ride in their livestock trailer while Bowen follows in her camper. When I caught up to this very busy gal, “Team Prosperity Acres” had two different jobs in Virginia and was traveling for an entire month. Bowen rents her goats to properties in environmentally-sensitive critical areas, where strict regulations prevent landowners from using herbicides.
Meanwhile, at Towson University, a crew of 18 goats was recruited from Harmony Church Farm of Darlington to effectively and safely control a weed problem around an area of native Maryland trees that’s been designated an arboretum. A unique approach here was that the goats don’t get stung by nesting yellowjackets as the volunteers did. This has turned out to be an annual job for the local goats.
From Eco-Goat Forester to Full-Fledged Farmer
Forester and conservation consultant, Brian Knox states that it is easy to see that our roadsides, open fields, woodlands, and backyards are becoming overrun with invasive species and other unwanted vegetation. That is how Eco-Goats, a division of Sustainable Resource Management, became the first goat foraging company in Anne Arundel County, where landowners can hire the goats to get rid of encroaching weeds. Also among Eco-Goats’ clients: both Historic St. Mary’s City and the American Chestnut Land Trust in Calvert County, Congressional Cemetery, and the town of Urbana in Frederick County.
Knox has been leading his teams since 2010, starting with 140 rescue “ruminants,” who often worked seven days a week. Although Eco-Goats has gone through a few herds of various sizes, a crew of 28 goats now live at Where Pigs Fly Farm in Centreville, Maryland.
To get the job rolling, Knox first offers a free visit to walk the property, evaluate needs, and answer questions. The herd is transported to the job location and stays in the trailer, while Knox, his partner Jennifer Vaccaro, and Vaccaro’s nephew inspect the area invasive species and vines suitable for the goats to eat. Low-lying plants are to be avoided as the goats can pick up parasites from the ground, so Knox and the Vaccaros take over when the growth is not goat-appropriate. The job area is confined by a movable electrified fence with the three humans digging postholes in whatever ground they may find. It can be backbreaking work for people while for the goats it’s a lark of a buffet! At the finish, goats and fence are removed while the goat droppings are not, as they become great fertilizer.
Back at Where Pigs Fly Farm, Knox and Vaccaro have become full-fledged farmers and produce vegetables and eggs for sale. For the first time, turkeys are being raised for the Thanksgiving holiday. Vaccaro says they are just charming and will keep a few each year to continue the flock.
Traveling with goats, we can only go so far...literally. That’s why Knox is now available to consult with individuals and civic groups who would like to have their own goats do the work. Profit margins are slim in the professional goat foraging business but Knox is a forester first and cares about the health of the land. His natural resource consulting firm: Sustainable Resource Management, specializing in forest stewardship, invasive species management, and education adds to the income stream. He has a special connection to the soil and plants. One of his most valuable farming skills is his ability to stop and listen to what the soil is telling him.
Therapy
Therapy goats can be a unique fusion between farm and hospital. Goats have a strong sense of intelligence for interaction with humans. They seem to love the attention and want to give it back. Goats’ entertaining nature is among the qualities that make them excellent therapy animals. Their playfulness can bring people out of their shell, lift their spirits, and even lower blood pressure. Prosperity Acres Child Enrichment Programs allow children to have first-hand experience with young farm animals’ calming effect. The farm offers Children’s Day with a full menu of hands-on activities, goat snuggle/story time, a six-week Tot Goat Yoga program, and goat-themed birthday parties. Bowen also created Nadia The Wonder Goat, a children’s book to help little ones see the caprines as friendly farm friends.
Goat Yoga
It’s the exercise craze sweeping the world—goat yoga! It’s yoga, but with goats and it is even a program at Congressional Cemetery, now that the many obstacles of the District’s austere regulations have been trimmed. This exercise has become a rage as dozens of tiny goats happily play among the yoga mats and climb on the yogis’ backs. No worries about the weight load as the sprightly kids (or baby goats) are the participants. Goat to Be Yoga is based in Sunderland, Maryland, and Amanda Bowen (yes, adult daughter of Mary Bowen) gives outdoor baby goat yoga classes right on Prosperity Acres Farm or travels to many local wineries, breweries, or any setting that fits requirements to find Zen with the kids. On the Eastern Shore, Emily’s Produce offers goat yoga classes. So too does Amanda Ritter, who has always loved animals. So much so, that she is studying at the University of Delaware to become a veterinarian. In the meantime, she offers Goats for Hire: Experienced in Yoga!
Goat Dairy
Goats tread lightly on the earth, and they bring us goat cheese! Goat milk is the most popular milk worldwide. Even though we drink cow milk almost exclusively in the States, around the globe, more people drink milk from goats than any other animal and there are good reasons. It’s naturally homogenized (meaning, it doesn’t separate out into layers in its original state) and not only is goat milk healthier for you, but it is also easier than cow milk for your stomach to digest. The milk is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B12, C, and D.
Pam Miller of Charlottetown Farm in Freeland, Maryland, has taken her happy goat milk in decidedly upscale directions: chevre, ricotta, Crotin, and feta are her cheeses while yogurt, Cajeta–caramel sauce, goat milk fudge, and a fantastic European-style cheesecake from silky chevre are her extra special items.
Mascot
Beyond the artisan goat products come the huge smiles when folks visit with the goat mascot each spring and fall at Baltimore’s Waverly Farmers Market. Pam Miller explains, “Goats just bring joy! They provide cuddles, bonding, petting, and brushing. They interact with humans much like a dog but with a lot of antics. I only take smaller, Nigerian Dwarf goats to events with people, as these particular goats are raised by 4H-ers, so they are used to being shown to and parading around people.”
Let’s be clear, all goats are not alike. Meat goat breeds such as Boer or Kiko, for example, would not be used for socializing and are not comfortable with people. Varied breeds of goats are said to have unique personalities like the long droopy-eared Nubian who is a big talker. Is it good for the goats? Miller never puts the goats in a situation where dogs are permitted as they are a predator.
Miller has had such success with her social goats interacting with humans, that she has started a company, Party Goats. You got it...those same PR goats hanging out looking sweet at birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, or just any celebration. Miller has also discovered how much folks enjoy her goat cheese classes presented at breweries and wineries complete with pairings.
And let us not forget to mention the most famous and local mascot goat of them all—Bill the Goat of the United States Naval Academy. He is a live goat and can be seen trotting about at all the Navy home football games and many other sporting and social events of the Academy.
To see the unusual coat of an Angora goat, look no further than the Naval Academy mascot goats. The “Bills” have always been the Angora. These are the softest, fluffiest breed of goat in the world. The Angora goat originated in the historic town of Ankara, Turkey. Most goats have two kinds of hair: long primary hairs, and short secondary curly hairs. The Angora goats lack primary hairs while their secondary hairs are closely packed and grow longer. Mohair is made from Angora wool and is used in sweaters, scarves, coats, and other products, including floor coverings and doll hair. The United States is a leading producer of mohair with Texas being the top-producing state.
It’s no wonder the highly-intelligent, four-legged Capra aegagrus hircus has become our hero as a domesticated friend.
