Conversely, leafy spurge should be grazed at least twice during the season to prevent flower and seed production. It must be grazed often enough and at sufficient stocking rates to deplete root reserves over time, reducing leafy spurge competitiveness. Heavy leafy spurge infestations require 4 - 7 sheep per acre and are usually necessary for the first two to four years. After a few years, the spurge will be reduced to a single occasional plant. Grasses should increase dramatically during that period.
Cattle can graze leafy spurge-infested pastures after sheep remove the spurge shoots.
Biological control agents such as insects or plant pathogens, like fungi and bacteria, have been used with some success. They will never completely eradicate leafy spurge, but they may reduce populations of leafy spurge over a period of years. The most successful biological control agents are Aphthona flea beetles in Montana. They can be effective in some areas. Contact your local Extension agent or weed district for information on starting a leafy spurge biological control program.