Can Goats Eat Kudzu?

Can Goats Eat Kudzu? (Find Out!)

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Yes, goats can eat kudzu and indeed are often employed in the task of cutting it back to the point that it won’t grow back anymore. However, other poisonous plants can grow in the kudzu, and the seeds are considered inedible—so exercise a degree of caution.

 

So, the basic answer is yes.

However, as you can see, it is normally the human that is benefiting more than the goat.

Kudzu is nutritionally fairly simple, but getting rid of it permanently is a task few are really up to.

Other than goats.

Let’s look into this in more detail.

Can Goats Eat Kudzu?

 

Is kudzu good for goats?

We may tentatively say that kudzu is good for goats.

It’s always good for them to get as much variety in their diets as they can, particularly variety that they can go out into their pasture for and forage of their own accord.

Kudzu is great for this, since it will usually grow back in a short time, and your goats can eat as much as they like.

That said, there isn’t much in kudzu that is specifically beneficial.

It’s fibrous, nutritious plant matter, which is always good in a goat’s diet in pretty much any form.

However, they could get these benefits from essentially any plant.

Kudzu, more than anything, will just add a bit of variety and will be a good enrichment foraging activity for your goat.

Beyond that, it won’t do them a huge amount of good that they aren’t already getting from hay or other plants.

But, do they like it?

This may well be the more important question.

 

Do goats like to eat kudzu?

While there is no one-size-fits-all for this question, in general it appears that they do enjoy eating kudzu.

Goats, as you will know, have a reputation for eating just about anything.

While this isn’t exactly true, it speaks to a different truth: goats are huge foragers who like a lot of variety.

This is one thing that kudzu is great for.

If you are able to handle your pasture occasionally becoming somewhat overrun, then having kudzu in there is great as an essentially regrowing piece of variety in their pasture.

The way kudzu grows, too, means your goats often won’t even need to lean down to get to it.

So, yes, in general goats like eating kudzu—however, no more so than any other similar plant.

The other thing to remember, of course, is that goats can be very personal and individual.

You may well find that none of your goats are all that bothered about eating kudzu.

There have been fears that it is toxic or poisonous, so let’s clear that up now.

 

Is kudzu poisonous to goats?

The simple answer is no.

Kudzu is not life-threatening or dangerous in any way, and eating it won’t kill your goat.

The regular part of the plant is entirely safe, and as I said, many goats are actually employed in the business of removing kudzu to the point that it doesn’t come back.

That said, there have been some concerns over the seeds of kudzu plants.

While not toxic, they are considered inedible. So, you’re best to act with caution with the seeds.

The other thing, as I mentioned, is the possibility of other, more dangerous plants lurking in the vines.

Poison ivy commonly grows in kudzu plants, although goats can safely eat this, too.

But you should be careful and aware of what is growing in your kudzu vines, especially if they are very thick.

 

Will goats eat kudzu?

Again, it really depends.

Most goats would certainly try it, and beyond that most goats would probably enjoy eating it.

Goats are naturally curious, so they will probably try it—if they happen to like it, they will eat a lot of it.

As I said, often goats are specifically used to get rid of the vine.

However, they normally aren’t given much choice here and are encouraged by all means to eat the vines.

If your goats have a good availability of foods, they will probably only eat a little kudzu.

Can goats really completely get rid of this pesky vine, then?

 

Can goats kill kudzu?

They certainly can and have a proven track record of being able to get rid of this invasive vine to the point that it does not come back.

Again, as I said, you have to really encourage them to eat quite that much of it, and as any gardeners will know, truly removing an invasive species is no easy task.

But, yes, with the right encouragement, goats can entirely kill and remove kudzu vines.

 

 

However you look at it, then, kudzu is perfectly safe for your goat.

Moderation is always important when it comes to pretty much anything you feed your goat, so do be aware of that.

Kudzu doesn’t contain anything specifically dangerous, or poisonous in itself—although the vines can hide other poisonous plants, sometimes.

The party that usually benefits the most from goats eating kudzu is us, rather than them.

It can be a very difficult vine to remove, once it has taken root.

Goats are one of the few up to the job.

 

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