Can Goats Eat Weeds?

Can Goats Eat Weeds? (Answered!)

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To answer this question…yes, goats can eat weeds. Goats can not only eat weeds, but they prefer it to grass, unlike other livestock. Most livestock prefer to eat grass, whereas goats have an inclination for brush and weeds. This makes having a goat particularly useful since they’ll easily clear out any brush or weeds you don’t want in your yard.

 

Just be mindful that it depends on what the brush or weeds are as some may be more dangerous than others.

Nevertheless, if you’re interested in learning more about goats and their ability to eat weeds, you are in the right place.

We’re going to discuss if weeds are healthy or unhealthy for goats, if goats are good at eating weeds, what weeds are toxic to goats, what weeds they prefer to eat, and much more.

By the end of it, you’ll have a solid list of information for you to analyze related to goats and weeds.

Let’s take a look!

Can Goats Eat Weeds?

 

Are weeds healthy for goats?

If there is one thing certain with goats, you’d be surprised at how well they can digest just about any vegetation.

Even vegetation that we’d deem as being entirely harmful like poison ivy, is perfectly fine for a goat to consume.

Still, there is a lot to wonder about weeds and if it’s healthy at all for goats.

Believe it or not, eating weeds is actually a natural part of a goat’s diet.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should run around and have your goat eat weeds all day.

All it means is that it’s ubiquitous for wild goats and livestock goats to munch on some weeds to make themselves feel full.

As odd as this might sound, there are some health benefits attached to this.

In fact, some weeds are actually anti-inflammatory and have natural antioxidants in them.

This means that weeds theoretically help a goat health-wise.

Basically, if what they’re doing is a natural part of them, why try to change it?

 

Are weeds unhealthy for goats?

As great as it is to see goats mow down a large field of weeds, it makes you wonder how healthy this can be for them.

After all, it’s not like they’re eating grass.

They’re eating some weeds that we would typically determine to be entirely bad for us to even be near.

Although we already discussed the health benefits attached to weeds for goats, there is some room for concern.

Goats aren’t totally invincible with what they’re eating, meaning it’s very possible for a goat to stumble upon a grouping of weeds that isn’t suitable for them to eat.

Thus, it’s very ideal for you to take the time necessary to ensure whatever your goat is eating is okay.

A quick google search should do the trick for you.

Still, you can always reach out to your local vet or an experienced farmer since they typically have a good idea about what goats can and can’t eat.

 

Are goats good at eating weeds?

The primary reason it’s so challenging to tell if goats are supposed to be eating weeds or not has to do with how good they are at actually eating weeds.

You’d be surprised at how quickly a few goats can clear out a large yard.

It’s a much quicker process than most people have the capacity to imagine.

In fact, there are plenty of goat-eating weeds businesses where a farmer brings a few goats to someone’s yard to help clear out whatever weeds they have.

This is a much more natural process than someone weed whacking, meaning they can get rid of the weeds without having to do any forced labor.

Goats love to eat weeds, and it becomes a nice treat for them in a sense.

As long as the goats aren’t being forced to eat the weeds in any way, it’s something people should consider if they have access to goats and don’t live in the city.

Goats are natural weed whackers, so you might as well utilize them to their strengths.

What weeds are toxic to goats?

As great as it is to see a grouping of goats eat up all of the weeds and vegetation around them, you still need to be aware of what weeds are potentially harmful to goats.

You never know when your goat is having a grand old time eating away, just to stumble upon a vegetation grouping that’s dangerous for them to eat.

If your goat happens to eat some vegetation that’s poisonous to them, make sure you stop what you’re doing and immediately get them some help.

You definitely don’t want to waste your time with something like this, so always take the matter at hand as seriously as you can.

It’s always better safe than sorry with something like this.

As for what weeds are toxic to goats, there are quite a few.

For plants that aren’t poisonous but can cause damage in other ways, make sure your goat stays away from Bagpod, Coffee Weed, Purple Sesban, Rattlebox, and Soapwort.

For plants that are straight-up poisonous, don’t let your goats near Buckwheat, Goat Weed, Klamath Weed, Lantana, Rape, and St. John’s Wort.

Bagpod

Buckwheat

Coffee Weed

Goat Weed

Klamath Weed

Lantana

Purple Sesban

Rape

Rattlebox

Soapwort

John’s Wort

What weeds do goats like to eat?

Aside from all of the weeds your goat can’t eat, realize there are plenty of weeds that are perfect for goats.

Having a good idea of what goats can eat will help you get a better sense of where you can have goat roam around and eat some vegetation.

Here is a good list of weeds goats can eat:

  • Canada Thistle
  • Cheat Grass
  • Common Tansy
  • Common Mullein
  • Dalmatian Toad Flax
  • Dandelions
  • Downy Brome
  • Indian Tobacco
  • Knapweed
  • Kudzu
  • Larkspur
  • Leafy Spurge
  • Loco Weed
  • Musk Thistle
  • Oxide Daisy
  • Plumeless Thistle
  • Poison Hemlock
  • Purple Loosestrife
  • Scotch Thistle
  • Spotted Knapweed
  • Sweet Clover
  • Yellow Star Thistle
  • Yucca

 

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