Overgrown where machines can't reach? Send in the goats.
Steep banks, fence lines and awkward ground. Our goats eat down the bulk, with brush cutting available to finish the job.
- Blackberries
- Bracken
- Thistles
- Broom
- Long grass
- Scrub
- Free site visits
- From $175 a day
- No spray, no machinery
- Daylesford based, serving Central Victoria
- ABN registered and insured
What a job looks like
A fence line, from overgrown to grazed back. Goats only, no brush cutting or machinery.
Backyard blackberry
Dam bank
Each of these took 5–8 days with our herd of 14–16 goats.
Where slashers can't go, goats can
Blackberry grows worst where it's hardest to reach. Goats walk straight in and eat around everything.
- Steep banks
- Creeks and dams
- Fence lines
- Around tanks, sheds and trees
Fence lines cleared, fences left standing
A slasher can't get close to a fence without hitting the wire, and clearing it by hand is slow, painful work. Goats eat the blackberry off the fence line, with no blades or machinery near your fence.
How it works
We visit
We walk the site with you and send a written quote within 24 hours.
We set up
We bring the herd and solar electric netting. No power or wifi needed.
The goats eat
They work through the area at their own pace. We check on them through the job.
We pack up
Fencing down, a final walk-through, then the invoice. Nothing extra.
Simple pricing
Every job gets a fixed price after a free site visit. As a guide, for a quarter-hectare (about 3–4 house blocks):
Plus fencing and transport, charged once per job, so bigger jobs cost less per day. Larger areas scale up from there.
What goes into the price
Less fuel before fire season
Goats can reduce grass, leaves and leafy scrub on slopes, gullies and under trees. The result depends on the vegetation and the site.
They won't remove heavy woody material, so talk to us about follow-up work and timing before the season.
Council or land manager? We provide written quotes, and before and after photos at the end of every job. Get in touch to talk about your sites.
- LandholdersLifestyle blocks, farms and properties with hard-to-reach ground
- CouncilsRoad reserves, parks, drainage lines and reserves
- Land and water managersEasements, catchments and sites near water
- Landcare and conservation groupsWeed control without chemicals near native plantings
- Selling a propertyOvergrown blocks cleaned up before listing and inspections
Who we are
We're Jason, Bonnie and little George Brammall. Our goats were brilliant at eating back weeds, and plenty of people needed that. So we started Hire a Herd.
We live on the land too. We like seeing the goats tackle blackberry and scrub in places that are hard to clear by machine, without needing to spray the area they're grazing.
- ABN 62 169 765 773
- Public liability insured
Why goats, not slashing or spraying
| Goats | Slashing | Spraying | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Accessible grazing sites with awkward terrain | Flat, open paddocks | Targeted weed treatment |
| Steep slopes and gullies | Yes | No | Yes |
| Near dams and creeks | Site dependent | Access dependent | Product rules apply |
| Fence lines | Cleared, fence left standing | Can't get close without hitting wire | Drift onto nearby plants |
| Vegetation reduction | Leaves and soft growth eaten | Standing growth cut | Vegetation treated |
| Chemicals | None | None | Herbicide |
| Follow-up | Regrowth may need more grazing | Regrowth may need more cutting | Follow product and weed plan |
On flat, open ground, a slasher is the cheaper option and we'll tell you so. Goats are useful where machinery struggles and where you'd prefer to avoid spraying. We'll assess whether the site suits grazing.
Worth knowing: many weed sprays come with label rules about keeping stock off, using manure from treated paddocks, and spraying near water. Goats don't. Example label
Questions
What will the goats eat?
Blackberry, bracken, thistle, broom, long grass and most leafy weeds. Ask us about anything else. We fence off anything you want kept.
Do you take on larger sites?
Yes, including council and public land. We'll work out herd size, timing and staging with you at the site visit, and we can scale up the herd for larger contracts.
Do you do anything besides goats?
Yes. Brush cutting, chainsawing and small tree maintenance are available as extras to finish the job, so you don't need to book anyone else.
Will the goats damage my fences?
They eat the blackberry off the fence, with no blades or machinery involved. We bring our own electric netting, so we don't rely on your fence to hold the goats. We check your fence lines before we start and tell you upfront if a fence is already in poor shape.
How long does it take?
Most of our jobs so far have taken 5–8 days with our herd of 14–16 goats. A quarter-hectare of dense blackberry can take up to two weeks. We'll give you a realistic estimate at the site visit.
Will the blackberry be gone?
Not completely. The goats eat the leaves and soft growth. You can finish it off yourself, or ask us to.
Will it grow back?
Some will. Goats eat the seed heads, and repeat visits keep it down. Most blocks take a few seasons.
Will the goats be OK with my dogs?
Our goats are calm, and the electric netting keeps them apart. Please keep dogs away from the fence line.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your place. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Planning work before fire season? Send a few photos of the area so we can start assessing the job.
- Phone
- 0434 480 297
- info@hireaherd.net
- Instagram and Facebook
- Instagram @hireaherd · Facebook
Based in Daylesford, serving Central Victoria and surrounding areas. Towns we're often in: Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Leonards Hill, Trentham, Glenlyon, Creswick, Clunes, Smeaton, Newlyn, Yandoit, Castlemaine, Chewton, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Macedon, Ballan, Ballarat, Maryborough. Further away? Ask us.