Smellick
Chillin' with the herd
My goats keep the Kudzu at bay and my timberland neatly manicured. A dear friend recommended this forum as a 24/7 resource when the unexpected occurs.
Crazy Goat Woman
- Thread starter Smellick
- Start date
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Welcome from another goat lady 
in VA. 
in VA. 
canesisters
Herd Master
Hey there!!!!
Happy to see you here.
Happy to see you here.
SageHill
Herd Master
Welcome from So Cal
Last edited:
Baymule
Herd Master
Kudzu, what state are you in?
Welcome from East Texas!
Welcome from East Texas!
Youngfarmer2019
True BYH Addict
Ahhhh hello fellow crazy goat woman, I’ve gone crazy over goats just in the past year and realized they are something I will love forever
- Thread starter
- #7
Smellick
Chillin' with the herd
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Several of us here in VA. I'm near VA Beach, 2 more about an hr NW, another up Harrisonburg way. What area are you?
I see some Kudzu near our garbage dump but, not much elsewhere. Lot of farming, outside of the housing areas here. I've read Kudzu is hi protein.
I'm near VA Beach, 2 more about an hr NW, another up Harrisonburg way. What area are you?I see some Kudzu near our garbage dump but, not much elsewhere. Lot of farming, outside of the housing areas here. I've read Kudzu is hi protein.
Finnie
Herd Master
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Kudzu has become a major problem in the southern states. Kudzu vines can grow 1 foot per day making it a very sustainable food source for livestock. However, it also overtakes and kills out native vegetation making it a dangerous invasive species. It increases nitrogen in the soil to the point that other plants cannot survive, allowing the Kudzu vine to spread even farther. It is classified as a dangerous invasive species by the US government.
On the other hand, Kudzu is definitely high protein for livestock feed. Kudzu provides 15-18% protein when grazed with 60% TDN. Kudzu hay is about 23% protein. Heifer Project is a sustainable program that donates various kinds of livestock to people in subsistence conditions over the world and teaches them care. As each set of breeding animals produce the offspring of each animal goes to the next family on the list until every family owns animals capable of producing food for the family and sellable food products. The organization encourages people living in native Kudzu areas to gather this vine to feed livestock. The goats, sheep, cattle and rabbits donated through this program can graze on the vine, and people gather and dry the vine for feeding when grazing is not available. It is very palatable to goats, cattle and sheep, as well as hardy so if you have fields of this stuff, you can feed livestock for free almost all year.
Without constant work against Kudzu, it will take over quickly. If you go on vacation, you may not be able to find your house, your barn, your car, etc. when you return since it will cover anything in its path. Like in those National Geographic documentaries showing the march of Soldier Ants that swarm and devour everything in their path!
On the other hand, Kudzu is definitely high protein for livestock feed. Kudzu provides 15-18% protein when grazed with 60% TDN. Kudzu hay is about 23% protein. Heifer Project is a sustainable program that donates various kinds of livestock to people in subsistence conditions over the world and teaches them care. As each set of breeding animals produce the offspring of each animal goes to the next family on the list until every family owns animals capable of producing food for the family and sellable food products. The organization encourages people living in native Kudzu areas to gather this vine to feed livestock. The goats, sheep, cattle and rabbits donated through this program can graze on the vine, and people gather and dry the vine for feeding when grazing is not available. It is very palatable to goats, cattle and sheep, as well as hardy so if you have fields of this stuff, you can feed livestock for free almost all year.
Without constant work against Kudzu, it will take over quickly. If you go on vacation, you may not be able to find your house, your barn, your car, etc. when you return since it will cover anything in its path. Like in those National Geographic documentaries showing the march of Soldier Ants that swarm and devour everything in their path!
