What Can Goats Eat? Complete Goat Diet Directory

I've been around goat farms for most of my adult life, usually volunteering at one around the corner from me. My good friends at Humble Heart Farms in Elkmont, AL sat down with me to answer many of our questions about what makes a healthy goat diet, and what goats can and can't eat. BTW, they make the best goat cheese on both sides of the Mississippi 🙂

The foundation of any goat's diet is forage: browse, pasture, and good-quality hay, plus clean water and a goat mineral. Fruits and vegetables are treats, not meals. If a goat seems sick or stops eating, call your veterinarian.

How Much Do Goats Eat?

Goats eat a lot for their size. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, goats can eat up to 6.5% of their body weight as dry matter (the weight of feed with the water removed).

How much your goat needs depends on several factors:

Age – Growing kids need more protein than adults. Merck lists about 16% crude protein for very young kids and 10% once they are weaned.

Health – A goat that eats less than usual may be sick. Don't just cut its ration; call your vet, because a goat off its feed can go downhill quickly.

Pregnancy and Lactation – Pregnant and nursing does need more nutrients. Merck puts protein needs at 12% or more in pregnancy and up to 20% in early lactation for high-producing dairy does.

Feed Quality – Goats on poor-quality forage need more supplementation than goats on good browse or hay. Ask your vet or extension agent to help balance the ration for your herd.

Can Goats Eat Bread?

Goats can eat a little bread as an occasional treat, but it's not good food for them.

Bread is mostly starch. Goats' digestive systems are built for fiber, and too much starch at once can upset the rumen and lead to acidosis and bloat.

If you offer bread, give only a small piece now and then. Never feed moldy bread.

Can Goats Eat Cabbage?

Yes, goats can eat cabbage in moderation. It provides vitamins C and K and makes a crunchy treat.

Don't overfeed it. Large amounts of cabbage and related plants can cause gas and digestive upset. Feed fresh, clean cabbage in small, chopped pieces.

Can Goats Eat Celery?

Yes, goats can eat celery as a treat. It contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K and potassium.

Like any treat, celery should be a small part of the diet. Cut it into short pieces so the stringy stalks don't cause choking.

Can Goats Eat Oranges?

Yes, goats can eat oranges and orange peels as an occasional treat. Many goats like the sweet, juicy fruit.

Set a reasonable limit, as you would with any sweet treat. Sudden changes or too much sugar can upset a goat's digestion.

Can Goats Eat Asparagus?

Yes, goats can eat asparagus as an occasional treat alongside their regular forage.

You may notice a change in the smell of their urine afterward. That's harmless.

Can Goats Eat Apples?

Yes, goats can eat apples. Cut them into slices to reduce the risk of choking, and feed them in moderation because of the sugar.

Don't let goats gorge on windfall apples, which can cause digestive upset.

Can Goats Eat Watermelon?

Yes. Goats can eat watermelon flesh and rind, and many love it.

Watermelon is about 90% water, which makes it a refreshing summer treat. It is still a treat, so offer it in moderation.

Can Goats Eat Strawberries?

Yes, strawberries are safe for goats as a treat. They provide vitamins C and K.

Wash them first to remove dirt and pesticide residue, and feed them in moderation.

Can Goats Eat Bananas?

Yes, in moderation. Bananas provide potassium, fiber, and some vitamins.

Give only a small amount at a time so your goats don't fill up on sugar.

Can Goats Eat Tomatoes?

Ripe tomato fruit is generally safe as an occasional treat. Tomatoes are about 95% water.

Don't let goats eat the leaves, stems, or green unripe fruit. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, and the green parts contain alkaloids that can be toxic. Keep goats out of the vegetable garden.

Can Goats Eat Peanut Butter?

A small lick of plain peanut butter is fine as a rare treat, for example to help hide a pill your vet prescribed. It's high in fat and shouldn't be a regular part of the diet.

Check the label and avoid products with added chocolate.

Can Goats Eat Tin Cans?

No. The image of goats eating tin cans is a myth. Goats are curious and will nibble at paper labels, but they don't eat the cans.

Swallowed metal, plastic, or string can cause serious injury or blockages, so keep trash out of your goats' reach.

Do Goats Eat Grass?

Yes. Goats are ruminants, with a four-chambered stomach, and they chew cud.

Merck describes goats as intermediate browsers. They prefer leaves, shrubs, weeds, and other browse, but they also eat grass.

Do Goats Chew Cud?

Yes. Like cattle and sheep, goats regurgitate partly digested food and chew it again. This helps them break down fiber.

A goat that stops chewing its cud may be sick. If your goat stops ruminating or stops eating, call your veterinarian.

Do Goats Eat Carrots?

Yes. Carrots are a popular goat treat. Cut them into slices or sticks to reduce the risk of choking.

Like other treats, carrots should be occasional. Overfeeding treats can cause weight gain and digestive upset.

Will Goats Eat Poison Ivy?

Yes. Goats browse poison ivy without the itchy rash it causes in people, which is one reason they're used to clear brush.

Be careful handling goats that have been in poison ivy: the plant's oil can rub off their coat onto your skin.

Will Goats Eat Kudzu?

Yes. Goats eat kudzu leaves and vines readily, and they are often used to control this invasive plant.

Kudzu is relatively high in protein. Check the area for toxic plants growing alongside it before you turn goats out.

Will Goats Eat Bamboo?

Yes. Many goats eat bamboo leaves and young shoots as part of their browse.

Bamboo can add variety, but it shouldn't replace good hay or pasture as the main part of the diet.

Will Goats Eat Blackberry Bushes?

Yes. Goats eat blackberry bushes, leaves, canes, and fruit, and they are often used to clear overgrown bramble patches.

Blackberries provide fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese.

Can Goats Eat Pumpkins?

Yes. Goats can eat pumpkin flesh, seeds, and skin. Cut pumpkins into small pieces so goats don't choke.

You may read that pumpkin seeds are a natural dewormer. There is no reliable evidence that they control goat parasites. Work with your vet on parasite control, including fecal egg counts.

What To Feed Goats To Gain Weight?

A thin goat may have parasites, dental problems, or another health problem. Have your vet check it before you change the diet.

Once health problems are ruled out, here's what helps:

Water

Goats need clean, fresh water at all times. Merck notes that lactating does need about 4 to 5 times their dry matter intake in water.

Forage

Good browse, pasture, and quality hay are the most natural and cost-effective base for a goat's diet. If you don't have enough browse or pasture, feed good hay.

Proteins

Protein supports growth and muscle. Merck lists a minimum of 7% crude protein in the diet; below that, goats eat less forage and can lose weight.

Grain

Grain is a concentrated source of energy that can help a goat gain weight, but it must be added slowly and kept in check.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System warns that overfeeding grain can lead to rumen acidosis. High-grain diets also raise the risk of urinary stones in male goats, so ask your vet how much grain is safe for your goats.

Vitamins

Goats need vitamins A, D, and E. Goats on good fresh forage usually get enough, while goats on stored or weathered forage may need supplementation.

Vitamin D comes largely from sunlight and sun-cured hay.

Minerals

Offer a loose mineral made for goats. Goats need much more copper than sheep, so don't use a sheep mineral for goats, and don't let sheep eat goat mineral.

Merck recommends a dietary calcium to phosphorus ratio of about 1.5:1 to 2:1 to help prevent urinary stones, which are most serious in male goats. Salt encourages goats to drink more water, which also helps.

What To Feed Goats To Increase Milk Production?

Milking does have high nutrient needs. Good legume hay such as alfalfa is rich in protein and calcium and is a common base for dairy goat rations.

Many dairy goats also get grain on the milk stand, increased gradually. Merck notes early-lactation does may need up to 20% crude protein in the diet, dropping to about 12% later.

Goats need enough long-stem fiber in their diet to keep chewing and ruminating. Too little fiber can lower milk fat and upset the rumen. Ask your vet or extension agent to help balance a ration for high-producing does.

Why Do Goats Eat Everything?

They don't, really. Goats are curious browsers that explore the world with their lips and mouths, so they nibble and taste many things. But they are picky eaters that prefer leaves, shrubs, weeds, and other plants, and the idea that goats will eat anything is a myth.

Sources

• Nutritional Requirements of Goats, Merck Veterinary Manual
• Herd Health Management: Dairy Goats and Sheep, Alabama Cooperative Extension System