Old Goats

Forwarded by SimiL (one of my tiny-but-loyal group of regular readers):

A group of Americans were traveling by tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through the process of cheese making, explaining that goat’s milk was used. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing. “These” she explained “are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.” She then asked, “What do you do in America with your old goats?” A spry old gentleman answered, “They send us on bus tours!"

Hah!

But here in San Diego, old goats have a different fate: they are rented out to eat chaparral. Seriously! Brush-clearing-by-goat has become quite popular here, both with local governments and landowners. And from what I can see on the couple of occasions that I’ve seen the old goats in action, they seem to like it as well…