Sheep Grazing to Control Leafy Spurge

BACKGROUND:
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) is an aggressive invasive weed that is dominating significant areas in the Agricultue and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Elbow Community Pasture.  Wild Rose (Rosa sp.)  and Western Snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) are shrubby species which have expanded on the pasture beyond their natural amounts of cover.  It has been found that sheep willingly graze these species, reducing the above ground cover, thus allowing desirable grasses and forbs to flourish.  

In the past, the success of this project has proven successful with contracts that were awarded to The Sheep Development Board to control this species. It is determined that services are needed again for 2014 & 2015 by tendering using a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. 


OBJECTIVE:
To use sheep to control the vegetative growth of the invasive weed Leafy Spurge, and the shrub species Western Snowberry and Wild Rose to eliminate their spread and allow for enhanced growth of desirable grasses and forbs. 


SCOPE OF WORK:
Services are needed during the period May to October 2014 & 2015 to provide and maintain sheep for the vegetative control of Leafy Spurge, Western Snowberry and Wild Rose (target species) within the Elbow Community Pasture, located in the Province of Saskatchewan, approximately 18 km southeast of the Town of Elbow.