When it comes to land management, chemical treatments can provide quick results, while managed goat grazing takes a longer-term ecological approach. Goats act as living, self-propelled tools that restore soil function, reduce fire risk, and lower costs over time. Grazing improves soil health by increasing organic matter, water-holding capacity, and microbial activity. Hoof action aerates and protects the soil surface, while natural browsing recycles nutrients and helps move plant succession forward. The result is a resilient, self-sustaining plant community that thrives in all seasons and conditions, safe for people, wildlife, and water systems.
Chemicals treat quickly — goats build lasting resilience.
| Comparison | Goats | Chemicals |
|---|---|---|
| Addresses the problem (don't chase symptoms) | YES | NO |
| Increases soil water holding capacity | YES | NO |
| Increases soil organic matter | YES | NO |
| Self-propelled equipment | YES | NO |
| Tillage action on soil: aeration, churning | YES | NO |
| Selective for plant species | YES | +/- |
| Builds soil nutrition | YES | NO |
| Augments soil microbes and mirobial activity | YES | NO |
| Recycles existing plant materials on-site | YES | NO |
| Moves plant succession forward | YES | NO |
| Can be applied any season of the year | YES | NO |
| Safe for ALL living things | YES | NO |
| Builds a self-sustaining plant community | YES | NO |
| Builds a self-sustaining plant community | YES | NO |
| Can be applied in rain, snow, wind (20-80 mph) | YES | NO |
| Favorable publicity for treatment methods | YES | NO |
| Recycles nutrients to available form for plants | YES | NO |
| Protects soil by covering with much/fertilizer | YES | NO |
| Irrigation with nitrogen included | YES | NO |
| Prepared seedbed (fertilizer, irration, aeration) | YES | NO |
| Packs seedbed after all infredients applied | YES | NO |
| Total reclamation time takes 3-5 years | YES | NO |
| Soil erosion mitigation by herd action/hoof action | YES | NO |
| Automatic calibrating equipment | YES | NO |
| Focus is on living entities | YES | NO |
| Treatments NOT dependent on ambient temperature | YES | NO |
| Treatment nurtures the entire system | YES | NO |
| Typically subject to human error | NO | YES |
© Lani Malmberg 2016