You said it...."if it ain't break, don't fix it" I can not see any problems with goats.

Thanks! Although still a bit concerned trees now are much bigger than 30, or 20 years ago and will get even bigger...

I saw on a website that goats should not be allowed to roam on drain field (pressure from their small hoof?)

the trees can not help the drain field and will probably damage it eventually.

That said I am not removing the large oak or ash near mine......

If I ever dump 10k for a new field will I come at the trees with a vengenance.?.......

What alatreehugger said.
I have friend who's operated a private arboretum for 30+ years, with the septic leach lines from his home septic system running out through a heavily wooded area - and no problems in that time - but they do flush some CuSO4 down the toilet twice a year.
Google up "Controlling Tree Roots in Sewer Lines with Copper Sulfate", a OSU extension bulletin, for more info.

Horses and cattle(large herd) roam over portions of my leach field. No problems that I can ascertain.

Second the compound for roots and it being too late now. And I'm sure the goats appreciate the yummy grass.

Dan

The weight of the goats, regardless of hoof size, won't hurt your drain field. So over the drain field is the same as anywhere else.

Septic drain fields are designed for a finite life, then a replacement field is built (the area for the replacement is included in the plans for the original field around here--but usually just a few feet sideways from the original). Trees that close are undoubtedly drawing moisture and nutrients from your drain field and may cause failure eventually. But, consider the cost of removing the trees currently and the potential future cost of a new drain field. I'd look into using copper sulphate periodically and leave the trees knowing that eventually I would probably have to drop $3-4K into a new field. At that time I'd try to lay the new one out where it won't be too near any trees--replacing the next one will probably be somebody else's problem anyway (who knows, it could be public septic by then anyway).

Thanks all, nothing beats your experiences. Will definitely try CuSO4.
Now to alabamatreehugger, a forester told me exactly the same thing about hickory having deeper roots than maple, however he reached the opposite conclusion: to remove the hickory rather than maple. So exactly how deep is hickory root system? Is it possible for it be beyond drain pipes?

I read if the drain field is allowed to rest for a year or two, it will go back to life. Just for this reason, I was planning to keep the house vacant rather than renting it out for the few years that I might not be here. Am I wagging the dog? No intend to ever sell this place...

dont you have access to the distribution box...???

pop the top.. and find out what is going on!!! [not for the faint hearted .. lol]

what is your soil type ... i have pure mineral sand.. water move thru it really fast.. it would be near impossible to a tree to be a problem ... compared to some soil types ...

whats a birth tree???? .. oh.. birch????

relying on us internet peeps for opinions on what is happening IN your soil .. though informative.. might not be your best option ...

ken

Ken has the right idea, check your distribution box. It will tell you what's going on.
Willows and Cottonwoods are two of the worst trees to be around, or over, a drainfield. Thujas aren't too good either. I see you don't have any of those. Whew!
Mike

I'll differ with your forester, with regard to the hickory posing a greater threat than the maples, though if it's growing right next to the distribution box(I don't know that term - is that what they're calling septic tanks these days?) it could certainly pose a problem.
Home we had 20 years ago had sugar and red maples all around the yard - and roots had invaded - over the 35+ years before we purchased it - the septic system. When we had to have the plumber out and they lifted the septic tank lid, there was a huge mat of maple roots in the tank, as they'd grown under the lid and migrated into the drain pipe coming from the house. I'd hazard a guess that a hickory wouldn't have done that - but I could be wrong.