How to Read a Goat Grazing Quote, Line by Line

If you have two quotes for goat grazing and they are far apart, one of them is probably leaving something out. This guide goes through what a good quote should say, so you can see the difference. We are not going to put numbers in it, because prices depend on the site. What matters is that the lines are there.

The lines a quote should have

1. The area. Acres, and a map or description of what is included. Does it cover the whole property or only part?
2. The vegetation. What is being grazed: grass, weeds, brush, vines. A quote that does not mention vegetation was not built for your site.
3. The dates and duration. When the herd arrives, how long it stays and what happens if weather delays it.
4. The herd. Roughly how many animals. Pricing is often built around goat-days, the number of animals times the days they work. See goat-days explained.
5. The herder and the fence. Is a herder on site, how often, and does the price include setting and moving the fence?
6. Water. Who supplies it. If you supply water and the quote assumes it, it should say so. If the company hauls it, that is a cost.
7. Mobilization and travel. Getting the herd to your property and back. This is a real cost, and it is a bigger share of the price on small or remote jobs.
8. Guardian animals. If dogs are part of the herd, they are part of the price.
9. The result. What the land should look like when the herd leaves, for example grazed to a stated height. And what is not included, such as trees, large woody stems or plants goats will not eat.
10. Passes. One visit or several. Weeds and brush rarely finish in one pass.
11. Insurance. Whether a certificate is available, and whether you will be named on it.
12. Terms. Deposit, payment schedule, cancellation and what happens if the herd leaves early.

Why quotes differ

• Different scopes. One company is quoting a single pass and another is quoting two. Compare like with like.
• Different results. "Graze the property" is not the same as "graze to four inches."
• Different assumptions about water and access. The cheaper quote may assume you provide things the other company includes.
• Different operators. Insurance, herders, guardian animals and wage compliance cost money. A quote that skips them can be cheaper, and the savings come from you carrying the risk.

Red flags in a quote

• A single price per goat or per acre quoted without seeing the site.
• No mention of a herder or fencing.
• No vegetation description.
• A promise that the property will be "fireproof" or "cleared forever."

How to compare two quotes

Write the twelve lines above on a sheet of paper, fill in each quote, and look at the gaps. Then call the company with the cheaper quote and ask about each gap. Often the difference disappears, or it turns out to be something you would not have accepted. For the questions to ask the company itself, see how to hire a goat grazing company.

We build quotes from your address and photos, which is why we ask for them before giving a number. See why there is no magic number.