Many countries use animals for mowing: Do you know why?  

Getting a lawn, or any space mowed is an expensive affair for sure. But there is a cost effective and environment-friendly to alternative to lawnmowers. We are talking about domesticated goats and sheep. Well, it might sound funny, but animal lawnmowers are ecological, as no petrol or diesel is required, cost half the price of a machine and are soothing for people to watch!  

Animal mowers  
Animal grazing is the ideal answer to achieve the “zero plant care chemicals” goal adopted by many countries around the world such as France, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. In fact, countries such as Japan and France are already using animal mowers as a cost-effective, ecological way to clear their land and promote the growth of native grasses and beneficial plants, particularly for large acreages and difficult terrain.  

But why are they better than machines? Well, for one, they do not need fuel or electricity like machines, as they eat grass for food and therefore reduce carbon footprint. Two, they can go up and down slopes where it is hard to use lawn mowing machines. Three, the sight of animals grazing peacefully is more soothing for the locals than those noise-creating machines. Additionally, there is also a reduction in the illegal dumping of garbage that is potentially dangerous to cattle.  

So, by entrusting landscape maintenance to these herbivores, the government and the land owners are both in a win-win situation.  

But do you know which animals, in particular, can be used to mow grass, and what kind of grazing they prefer? Let us tell you all about them. 

Goats  
Ideal for small sloping, irregular green spaces or undergrowth, goats are excellent brush cutters. They love to munch on shrubs as well as fruit and ornamental trees and work very fast. They are a good complement to grazing sheep when there are several layers of vegetation to maintain in green spaces!  

Recently more and more companies, local governments, hospitals and universities etc., have been using animals to cut the grass. In 2009, Google caused a stir when it rented a herd of goats to keep the grass short at its California headquarters. The goats worked their way through the weeds and then fertilised the property with fresh goat droppings. How amazing is that? 

Having the grass trimmed by animals not just in suburban meadows and up in the mountains, but also in city areas with lots of houses and buildings, is one of Japan's unique features. The Japanese use goats for the purpose. Some Japanese companies even have "Goat Employees" working for them. 

It is said that having goats around becomes a common topic of conversation and prompts different generations to talk to each other, helping to make the community stronger. This might also be one of the reasons that this ecologically-friendly form of grass cutting has become popular in Japan. 

Sheep  
By grazing, sheep cut hedges and regulate lawns. Unlike goats, which eat everything, sheep eat only the greenest parts of hedges and meadows. Sheep are ideal co-workers on small grounds and can mow polluted or wet zones too if needed. Far from being just eco-mowers, sheep also have a favourable impact on biodiversity, which can increase by up to 40% on the grounds where they are used. Sheep do not destroy habitats. Their manure enriches the soil, attracting a host of insects and animals beneficial for biodiversity. 

In 2013, the Paris city council began a trial, allowing sheep to graze in urban parks in a bid to replace petrol-powered options. Since then, sheep have become a regular occurrence in Paris. Voila!