Two ungrazed control plots, two grazed by goats (Capra hircus hircus), and two grazed by a combination of goats and cattle (Bos taurus) were established in an overgrown abandoned orchard to study rehabilitation of herbaceous species and control of encroaching undesirable species. No major differences were found between the two grazing treatments; percent cover and herbaceous grasses increased in the two grazing treatments because of the defoliation of the shading overstory of brush, trees and multiflora rose bushes (Rosa multiflora). Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), white clover (Trifolium repens) and Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) increased, while poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), brambles (Rubus), and honeysucke (Lonicera japonica) decreased. Wild strawberry and mint (mentha) increased in the goats-only treatment. Goats were effective in controlling multiflora roses, killing 100% and 92% (goats, and goats+cattle respectively) and of canes in 2.5 years, although new sprouted shoots were observed following two years of rest. Results indicated that the foraging habits of goats resulted in the elimination of multiflora rose bushes and in a significant increase in desirable forage species.
This study in North Carolina was conducted over a four year period to evaluate the effects of three grazing regimes (goats alone, goats and cattle, and no grazing) in a pasture rested for 15 years and overgrown with multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora Thumb.) Herbaceous vegetative cover increased with goat grazing alone (from 65 to 86%) and with goat and cattle grazing (from 65 to 80%), while the control plots yielded a decrease (from 70 to 22%). The percent cover by grass species had a similar response. Multiflora rose bushes experienced an average reduction in height from 2.1 meters to 0.6 meters, nearly eliminating it from the grazed pastures. The number of dead multiflora rose stems were 100% and 92% in the goats grazing alone and goat and cattle grazing, respectively. Authors conclude that grazing is an effective tool for the elimination of multiflora rose, at the same time increasing the abundance of desirable forage species.
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