The kids at Haakhagen Goats Grazing in Poynette are awfully cute, but they have another superpower to win hearts — combating invasive species.
Co-owner Greg Haak is wrapping up kidding season at his farm. This summer, he’s contracting two herds of 50 goats to the city of Madison to rotationally graze in seven parks. This is a tool to wipe out invasive species taking over natural areas. Haak tells Mid-West Farm Report all about the business of grazing.
Greg Haak and his coworker Brooke started raising nine goats in 2016. Greg grew up on a dairy farm in Belleville and wanted to raise animals that were less demanding than cows. Today, the duo and their families raise just over 100 goats under HaakHagen Goat Grazing, LLC (Kiko and Savanna breeds) to be contracted out on grazing jobs.
The goats rotationally graze the parks twice in the summer. The first graze shocks the invasive plants, and the second graze prevents the plants from growing back stronger. This repetitive grazing eventually kills the invasive plants.
The goats are good about staying in their electric fence. There are signs warning park visitors about the fence. Haak says sometimes a dog or a child will get a ‘shock’ if they touch the fence.
Park staff and volunteers keep a close eye on the goats to make sure they have water and appear to be in good physical condition.
Haak says kidding season was difficult this year because of the colder than average temperatures, especially for first-time nannies. He’s got just a few more to kid yet, and the weather is turning around nicely.
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