Eradication of Blackberry

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 59, Issue 5, 15 November 1939, Page 401

Eradication of Blackberry

Valuable Work Done By Goats In Ridding Land Of This Pest

R. P. HILL,

Fields Instructor, Hastings.

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THE part played by , goats: in the eradication of blackberry on the East Coast . districts of Northern Hawke’s Bay cannot be too highly commended. Very considerable areas which had been completely abandoned because of blackberry have in recent years been rehabilitated, and are now carrying pasture and breeding and fattening sheep and cattle. Without goats this would never have been accomplished. However, the goats alone are not the sole means of blackberry control, but goats coupled with good fences, the fire stick, and grass seed and topdressing can certainly work wonders. The experience of the Opoho Station, is an example of how this may be accomplished. Parts of this property were badly infested with blackberry, and in 1934 Mr. J. W. Powdrell realised that something would have to be done to arrest the blackberry from spreading to clean areas. A number of goats were obtained, but they were insufficient to cope with the blackberry, and it took some time before the mob increased enough to demonstrate their value. It was then realised that if the goats were to be really effective in blackberry control the fences must be

goat-proof, so that the animals could be controlled. Area Cleaned Up _ The accompanying photographs will show how the first area was cleaned up and in June, 1939, was carrying five sheep to the acre, as well as two goats per acre. This area was flat and of approximately 70 acres, and was completely overgrown by blackberry 10 feet high. It was also swampy and

badly drained. In. the. early autumn of 1938 : the area was burnt, and two months later the larger clumps which had not. burnt up - were again fired. The result of these burnings left a tangled mass of burnt and charred blackberry vines. It was just possible then for men to scramble through and sow grass seed, and when this was completed the land was drained and completely ringfenced with an eight-wire fence (3in. barb top and bottom). By June the grass was sufficiently established for it to be stocked, and a mob of 200 goats and 300 sheep were turned on. Stocking has been continued in varying numbers right through until the present time. First Winter During the first winter the sheep confined themselves to eating the grass, but the goats preferred the blackberry vines and greedily ate everything in reach, until by the end of the winter they.had climbed up and pulled down every stalk. • During the summer months an increased number of sheep were carried to keep down the . grass, and there were never fewer than two goats per acre as well. By February

every blackberry bush was flat on the ground, and it was a common sight to see the goats scratching the sticks to get at any young shoots which. were still coming through and also holding down with their hoofs the dry dead vines while they chewed them. As so much dead material was left on the ground it was thought worth while to drop a match in the heaps, which were dry and burned readily. However, only a limited amount was treated in this way, and later events proved this burning to be unwise, as it was found that, where burnt, all the young grass had been killed out, but where the heaps of vines had been left, in three months time the goats had completely either eaten them up or pulverised them with their hoofs . leaving an excellent sole of grass where the heaps had been. The area was topdressed with superphosphate in March, and in June was all in first-rate ryegrass-white clover pasture, having carried almost continually since first stocking in June, 1938. varying numbers of sheep, and always two goats per acre. Judicious stocking with both goats and sheep

wjl l be necessary for at least a further twelve months in order that any blackberry plants which still persist in sendj n g up shoots may be killed. . This area as been developed at very small cost. Labour costs have been negligible, no clearing has been, neces-

sary, and the only expense has been grass seed, some topdressing, and a drain. The fencing, being a permanent improvement, cannot be charged against the work. Other paddocks on t ee p hillsides are being dealt with in the same manner and with equally successful results.

Good Fences Necessary Mr. Powdrell points out, however, that nothing can be accomplished without good fences to hold the goats where required. If properly managed, goats

may be carried on blackberry-infested country without any diminution of sheep-carrying capacity ' Goats do their best work in the winter months, as at That. time, no matter how much grass is available, they confine themselves to eating the wood and vines of the blackberry. They will keep chewing at bushes until every leaf and branch within reach is eaten, and they will follow this by climbing-up over the bushes until the whole bush is weighed down to the ground and they can complete the chewing process until , nothing is left. It is in the spring and autumn months that good fences are so necessary, as at this, period there is ample green grass, and this appears more palatable to them than the young juicy, shoots of the blackberry. , . . During these periods the goats must be crowded together with sheep so that they all are compelled to eat the blackberry shoots. This may be done without - any harmtul effects to sheep, particularly if the mobs of sheep are changed and not left on the same area too long. The problem of fencing is frequently considered to be insurmountable, and the statement is often made that it is impossible to .keep goats confined. There will always be found a few goats more athletic than the average which, . will jump ;over fences, but, generally speaking, a well-constructed

-eight-wire sheep-proof fence will hold goats sufficiently well to control blackberry, provided, of course, it is kept in reasonable repair and the stays are . protected so that no goats may climb up them.

Management of Goats The management of goats must also be studied. They must be quietened and . trained to dogs and mustering. At. Opoho this has been accomplished by bringing down mobs to the station home paddocks, -where they are changed around. . This method works in very well, as two crops of young goats occur in a year, one in May and the other irt November, and about these periods all mobs are handled and young males castrated. Handled in this manner, no difficulty is ever experienced in mustering whenever necessary. . . It is the practice never to allow more than two male goats to run out with every hundred females, and in this way . a healthy mob of goats is maintained. . I feel sure that, if more reliable data . were obtained and broadcast through- , out the country, the information would stimulate many more farmers to solve their blackberry problems, systematically by means of goats, not merely stocking up with a few goats, but working them to a plan.