As goats become more popular, they may provide control for undesirable species such as kudzu

Demand for goat meat is growing in the U.S., making goat raising more popular. And as some wonder if goat farming could provide a valuable source of income for families in need, some Kentuckians are using the animals to control undesirable plants such as kudzu, an invasive species that grows throughout the South.

Goats seem to provide a cheap solution to combating the weed, which is hard to clear manually or with herbicides. While cattle will not feed on broadleaf plants, goats will, and get added benefits due to kudzu's high levels of protein. Ray Bowman, executive director of the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office told Sean Bailey of The Times Tribune in Corbin, Ky., "They go out there, eat the stuff, process it, and turn it into meat. And all they leave behind is fertilizer." (Photo of a goat in kudzu by Bailey)

Barry Arnette, who raises goats on Sharpe Farm near Rockholds, Ky., is working with researchers from the University of Kentucky to determine how effective goats can be in controlling kudzu. "When the experiments are complete, Arnette and the UK team hope to come up with educational materials and 'hints' for farmers looking to get rid of kudzu," reports Bailey. Corbin is near the northern limit of kudzu's range, so Bailey writes, "If you don’t know what kudzu is, you’ve seen it and not even known it. ... It will grow just about anywhere — sometimes even engulfing dilapidated sheds, fences and even towering trees." (Read more)