Why Sheep

Sheep are an ideal fit for vegetation management for most solar farms.  They are diverse foragers that eat a wide variety of grasses, forbs (weeds) and browse (woody plants).  Sheep are a unique livestock species as they can thrive in most any environment with proper management.  They are small enough to navigate solar sites with minimal to no infrastructure damage, yet large enough to manage large volumes of vegetative growth. 

Like solar panels, sheep work every day of the year and are fueled by the sun.  Fortunately, the by-products of sheep focused vegetation management are high quality food and fiber for the American consumer.  In addition, properly managed sheep grazing can sustain and improve grasslands.  They target annual plants in their vegetative state, produce natural fertilizer (manure) and stimulate perineal grass to remain vegetative and increase ground cover.  Sheep-focused land management has the potential to supply clean air, recharge underground water reservoirs, produce highly nutritious food, and deliver a premier fiber for people.   

For sheep to be part of a successful vegetation management system, they need to be strategically managed.  They have been a domesticated livestock species for thousands of years and require skilled shepherds to keep them healthy, productive and properly harvesting the vegetation.  All too often, inexperienced people get involved in tending to these animals without proper guidance, experience, and training.  Improperly managed sheep are at high risk for catastrophic failure, such as predation, parasitism, overgrazing and starvation, just to name a few.  But when managed properly, sheep in combination with mowing and spraying can provide an unmatched level of vegetation management.

Contact us if you’d like to arrange a site visit and discuss why this solution is best suited for your needs.