Author Topic: What kind of grazing animal will eat nettles? Sheep or goats? (Read 12389 times)

londontolandgirl · « **on:** October 19, 2017, 02:25:35 pm »

We're newcomers to the smallholding game but enormously excited to be getting started after about a four year search for our current house! It came complete with Alpacas who have made their feelings about me (unflatteringly intense dislike) plan and who will thus be going to a new home soon. In their stead we're planning to get some sheep and pigs but I'd also like something that would eat the nettles that are currently taking over our paddocks. Online research seems divided on this, can anyone recommend a breed of sheep that likes to graze on nettles? Or should I be looking at sheep? Thanks in advance!

Buttermilk · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2017, 04:51:28 pm »

Both sheep and goats will eat nettles but they like them cut first and wilted for a day before doing so.

Dogwalker · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2017, 06:10:16 am »

With mine the goats eat nettles and thistles then the grass, the shetland sheep eat the grass first then clear the nettles once the grass is getting low.
That said the goats eat the nettles and thistles more at certain times, they like them best when they're flowering.

crobertson · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2017, 05:11:29 pm »

Our sheep eat both nettles and thistles, they are a hill breed so do well on poor ground. Our couple of texels on the other hand won't touch anything that isn't lush grass

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harmony · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2017, 05:47:34 pm »

At this time of the year my horses do the best job of eating right down any nettle patches. Goats nibble the tops then move on. Sheep not bothered.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2017, 09:45:54 am »

You could cut them down now with a dashel basher then spray the newly emerging nettles with Grazon Pro in Spring. Ditto docks and thistles.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2017, 12:35:19 pm »

The usual warning about Grazon 90 / Grazon Pro - it is highly persistent, in the sward and through animals’ digestive tracts. No problem if you only use your muck on pasture / meadows. But don’t use muck from animals that have grazed the treated sward or hay made from it (even months after treatment) on any broadleaved plants - gardens, veg plot, tomatoes, turnip patch, etc.

londontolandgirl · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2017, 11:28:53 pm »

Thank you so much everyone! I think I'll look at a goat to go in with our sheep and see how we get on. We do have pigs that are clearing some of the land for us (that is to say, we're building our pig pen over the worst of the nettles!) but the main paddocks are becoming choked!

crobertson · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2017, 09:14:39 am »

I can also add Graze on has worked wonders on out paddocks that had been neglected before we moved here.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2017, 11:52:04 am »

I spot treat with Grazon using a hand sprayer. It helps if you time it to coincide with soft young growth in Spring, when about 15-20 cm high. Also after a couple of days of dry weather and another dry day forecast.