Goats being used to get rid of weeds around Wascana Centre

May 25, 2023

The Wascana Centre is bringing back a unique but effective tactic to deal with its weed problem.

Over 200 goats, coming from the Village of Elbow, will be allowed to walk the grounds from May 24th to June 1st and eat all the weeds they want. Around 100 goats were brought in last year and had a major impact in the area.

“We are pleased to welcome a herd of 200 local Saskatchewan goats to enjoy our tasty weeds,” said Don McMorris, the Minister Responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission. “Goat grazing allows us to reduce the spread of invasive plants without the use of chemical herbicides and machinery.”

One goat is expected to eat around 10 pounds of weeds daily, meaning the roughly 200 goats will be able to get rid of around a tonne of pesky plants every day.

Click here to see more...

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.