livestock for grass?

Question

what is a good animal that will keep my grass short but not kill it? i have ten acres and most of it is grass, which grows very high. i want to buy some livestock to just maintain the grass and look at. i'm open to cows, but i want something smaller, but not goats, because they eat the roots. i've heard alpacas would be good.

Answer 1

Actually, goats don't have top teeth like cows don't, so they don't pull up the roots. Horses do. Sheep also have no top teeth. You should also think about if you have coyotes that may kill any livestock.

I have dairy goats and a Great Pyrenees guardian dog that keeps the vermin away from my herd.

Any livestock will eat the best grass first and the weeds will still be there. If you want to stay with the smaller animals I suggest mini horses as they are easier to handle. Or put an add in the paper for animals to retire to for the rest of their life and you'll have animals given to you.

Then think about the male and female aspect of it all. Do you want to have babies of whatever you decide to get? If not, just get females, males will kill eachother.

Do your homework on animals before you get anything.

Answer 2

To defend goats cause I have goats they do not eat the roots. Goats wouldn't be a good option anyway cause they are not grazers, they are browsers that prefer leaves off of trees and bushes. They are not grass happy like sheep, cows and horses. IT sounds like you want a animal to cut your grass but you don't want to have to tend to the animal either. Thats not going to happen! Alpalcas you will have to shave and provide hay for in the winter. Horses need more veterinary care, hay in the winter and will eat all your grass in time. Cows are your best bet! Get two beef cattle but you will still need to provide hay in the winter or butcher them every year. My neighbor does that! You will still have to maintain your field and mow it cause not one animal eats everything. The weeds will grow still!

Answer 3

Have you thought of some sheep? They also tend to keep grasses trimmed short, but not usually to the extreme level that goats will. Goats don't just trim to the roots, they'll eat everything high or low that they can reach. And because they are very good climbers, that means they'll eat just about everything! Sheep are easier to keep confined with lower enclosures.

Answer 4

Alpacas can be good, but you might be better off with llamas - they are easier to handle, as well as less expensive.

But it depends on the type of grass...

Answer 5

You could get a large pack of cats (100 - 300)

they eat grass......

Answer 6

Mini horses lamas or sheep would be your best bet
good luck

Answer 7

sheep minature horses lamas