Pine Needles?

[mylilchix]

We're getting ready to add goats to the family. The area they'll be in is in a pine forest. We have pine shrubs on the ground and a few slash (pine limb) piles in their fence. Is it safe for goats to eat pine needles?

Thanks, Sonja

 

[cmjust0]

I've never heard of pine needles being bad, but we don't have pines, so I don't know for sure. Pine's not on any list of poisonous plants I've seen, though.

On the other hand...plants which aren't normally bad as a part of a mixed browse diet can be bad if the goat is forced to live on them exclusively..

Is their nothing else in terms of undergrowth? No broadleaf weeds, briar bushes, etc?

 

[trestlecreek]

Well, I have had goats pastured with pine trees and they were just fine, but my goats did not eat too many of them. Goats usually won't eat too much of something that may be toxic. If they have plenty of other browse, they would probably be fine.

Purdue University has a nice plant toxicity site that is very helpful.

 

[mylilchix]

Yes there is undergrowth. They'll also have some grass and hay. I just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any problems if they get into a slash pile or eat one of the pine shrubs.

Thanks, Sonja

 

[cmjust0]

In that case, I think you'll be just fine.

 

[dkluzier]

I read somewhere on the internet that feeding evergreens to goats was good for deworming. I've given pine limbs to my goats with no ill effect, actually they like them alot.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

my goats push each other down to get pine needles. the 4h kids next door said that the sap is like candy to them - they LOVE the trees.... so much that we had to put wire around them b/c they were eating the bark.

one of my lamanchas stands up on her hind legs and does this funny little dance while she tries to get the needles in the tree.

silly goats.

 

[goat lady]

We live in Central Florida. Pine trees all over. Our goats don't seem to eat the pine needles. I have caught one eating the bark off of a pine tree and had to wrap the tree so she could not get to it. But I consider it natural hay for them.

 

[mylilchix]

Awesome!! I guess I'll have some slash eating machines.

 

[Griffin's Ark]

30 of our 32 goats will fight to the death for pine bark and needles. The other 2 don't really care for pine. Pine needles are a great source of vitamin C. Which goats don't need 'cause they produce it themselves, but what the heck, Let 'em eat Pine!

Chris