We're also new to homesteading. We have an overgrown pasture with lots of thistles and thorny bushes in it as well as tall grass. You say cows can mow an overgrown pasture. But my concern is the thorny bushes. Would it be harmful to the cows to eat those? We had entertained the thought of putting a couple of goats in the pasture first to take care of all the undesirable stuff, then put the cows in to eat the grass. Your thoughts?