Can Goats Eat Eucalyptus? (Answered!)

 

Eucalyptus trees are known as essentially the only thing that koala bears eat, and they’re also known for being hard for anything else to digest.

But these are goats we’re talking about, and they can digest with the best.

But, as I said, moderation is always key, and any part of a eucalyptus tree should only represent an occasional treat for your goat.

 

Is eucalyptus toxic for goats?

Eucalyptus trees pose a number of environmental hazards, not limited to animals becoming impaled on the sharp branches.

This is usually more of a problem for horses, and goats usually aren’t big enough to have this problem, but you should still be aware of how the tree sits on your property and whether it poses a danger.

That said, many people often ask me if eucalyptus trees are toxic for goats in any way.

The short answer is that yes, there are toxic chemicals present in eucalyptus trees and leaves.

However, your goat would have to eat a very large quantity of it in order to experience any serious problems.

Some goats in regions with many eucalyptus trees have spent their lives grazing the fallen leaves without having any serious problems.

One thing to be aware of for your goats’ health is if they can get the leaves off the branches, or if they can only get them off the ground after they’ve fallen.

 

Can goats eat eucalyptus leaves?

Again, the simple answer is yes, they can.

Typically, goats will graze on dried eucalyptus leaves that have fallen to the ground, or you will collect the leaves and dry them out to be fed to your goats as you see fit.

Moderation is key here; they really should not eat very much.

Too much can cause problems, even simply because a goat’s diet should be made up of more fibrous plants like weeds and hay.

That said, whether your goats have access to fallen leaves or leaves straight off the tree is an important distinction.

Eucalyptus leaves have a very high oil content, and it is sold commercially all over the world for all sorts of uses, particularly as a vitamin supplement.

For this reason, its high nutrient content can mean eating too much can quickly become a problem.

When the leaves are removed from the tree and dried out, they lose much of this nutrient content.

Eucalyptus trees are typically quite tall, with branches that stretch high into the sky.

Your goats usually won’t be able to reach them while they’re on the tree, then, and will have to wait for them to fall to the ground.

Still, you should be aware of how much is blowing down for your goats to get to.

 

Can goats eat eucalyptus bark?

Goats are quite big fans of tree bark, and will eat this seemingly unpalatable food if they get the chance.

This, in general, will not be a problem for them, and won’t a problem for eucalyptus bark in particular.

Given the size of the tree, if they are keen to get at it (instead of leaves that have fallen to the ground), it is not uncommon for them to start ripping bits of bark off the tree.

This will usually be fine for the goat, but not so much for the tree.

If your goat strips too much bark off, the tree can’t transfer vital nutrients to the trunk, branches and foliage, and could even start to die if its bark is consistently stripped away.

You can probably convince your goats to stop eating bark by providing higher protein hay or more treats in other forms.

While goats do generally not have a problem eating bark, too much could cause an issue.

If your goats are excessively eating bark, it could indicate a shortfall somewhere else in their diet.

If you’re lucky enough to have a eucalyptus tree on your property, you might be just as concerned about it as you are about your goats—don’t let them destroy it!

 

 

So, eucalyptus is a strange one.

It only grows in particular regions and is usually known as the staple diet of a totally different animal.

However, many report that their goats can’t get enough eucalyptus and the only problem is convincing them not to eat too much.

If you’ve got eucalyptus trees on your property, you should be wary of how much your goats get into it.

It is, as I said, only very mildly toxic, but that toxicity could build up over time.

Where possible, make sure you have control over the amount of eucalyptus the goats eat.

 

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