Can Goats Eat Cilantro?

Can Goats Eat Cilantro? (Revealed!)

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Yes, goats can safely eat cilantro. It is in fact beneficial in a couple of ways, and it’s always good advice to provide as much variety as you can in your goat’s diet. Cilantro is quite nutrient rich compared to what they might normally eat, though, so moderation is very important.

 

In good moderation, then, as part of a balanced diet, cilantro can actually be highly beneficial for your goats.

It is full of a number of nutrients that you aren’t always going to easily find, and more importantly, goats seem to love eating cilantro!

Let’s look further into this.

Can Goats Eat Cilantro?

Is cilantro good for goats?

In a number of ways, yes, cilantro is good for goats.

For one thing, goats are almost sure to love eating it.

They seem drawn to such nutritious plants, and so they most importantly goats will enjoy eating cilantro.

Beyond that, though, cilantro has a number of health benefits.

For one thing, cilantro is a great source of fiber.

Fiber is pretty much the backbone of your goat’s diet.

Even though 75% of its diet should be fiber in the form of hay or forage to begin with, they can never have too much.

Beyond that, cilantro is a great source of many vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins like C present in cilantro act as antioxidants, preventing the formation of free radicals in your goat’s cells.

These damage cells over time, so a good source of antioxidants is essential.

There are also trace oils in cilantro which have been shown to aid in digestion and in the health of the gut biome.

So, yes, cilantro is very good for goats—but in the right quantities.

 

Is cilantro bad for goats?

No, cilantro is not bad for goats in any absolute sense.

It won’t do them any immediate harm, it isn’t toxic or dangerous in that sense.

However, it is quite a complex food compared to most of their diet.

It’s very nutrient rich when compared with simple hay, and so the key is moderation.

You need to be very careful of how much your goat eats.

Too much will quickly become a problem.

The oversaturation of the nutrients can cause indigestion, pain and even diarrhea.

Feed them cilantro perhaps once or twice a week, and swap it out for other treats in the rest of the week.

This will both keep your goats happy, with varied treats and snacks, and ensure the best possible range of nutrients.

However, there is one circumstance where most would advise never using cilantro as goat feed.

 

Does cilantro give goats bad milk?

The one time where I would outright suggest not feeding goats cilantro is in the case of milking does.

If you are milking your goat to sell or consume, feeding it cilantro will make the milk taste very bad.

Why exactly this is the case is not clear, other than the very strong flavor of cilantro.

This changes the compositional makeup of the milk, breaking down the compound that gives it its white color—and its flavor (or lack thereof).

If you think you like the idea of cilantro flavored milk, give it a try—otherwise, this is the one case where you shouldn’t feed cilantro to a goat.

That said, it won’t do the goat itself any harm.

This is purely about whether you want to drink cilantro milk.

 

Can goats eat raw cilantro?

Raw cilantro is the best way to go, and is certainly safe for your goats.

They will prefer it this way, as indeed they will prefer virtually everything this way.

The diet you provide them with should be the best recreation you can come up with of their natural diet.

This, obviously, would not include any cooked foods.

Cooked cilantro is usually nothing more than a garnish, an afterthought, so there’s very little in it for a goat.

That said, is it safe?

 

Can goats eat cooked cilantro?

Cooked cilantro is also safe for goats, but there’s no reason to go out of your way to cook it for them.

They will prefer it raw, and indeed it will have a better nutrient profile before it is cooked.

If you do have some leftover cooked cilantro that won’t otherwise get used, feel free to offer it to your goats.

They may or may not eat it, and it won’t do them any harm.

If you are making a choice, though, there’s no reason to cook it in preparation to give it to goats.

Just let them have at it.

 

So, as long as you aren’t planning on milking the goats in question, then cilantro is a great addition to their diets.

It’s fibrous and full of vitamins, making it a great treat for your goats.

You’ve always got to remember, though, that it is a treat.

It should only be fed sparingly, and should not become a replacement for any regular part of your goat’s diet.

With this in mind, you’ll have no problem feeding cilantro to your goat.

 

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