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.

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Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.