Goats and gardening go hand in hand. Goats benefit the garden with their manure, which helps to produce healthier plants and greater crop yields. The manure is in pellets, so it can be applied directly and not burn plants like chicken or cow manure does. It does not have a strong smell, either, which is a plus.
The nutrients in the manure aid in plant growth and the urine that is contained in the bedding being used adds to the nitrogen content, which makes it a more effective fertilizer once composted. Working it into the soil improves the texture, aiding in more efficient use of water and allowing more oxygen to get to the roots of the plants.
Another reason for composting goat manure is to destroy weed seeds that may have survived their trip through the goatsu2019 digestive systems, and to kill any pathogens that may be contained in the manure
Gardens can benefit goats, if you plant vegetables that are good for goats and which they enjoy eating. As you plan or plant a garden in the spring, why not add some plants with goats in mind?
Sugar snap peas are usually the first plant to go in each spring. Make sure to plant away from the fenceline or the goats will make quick work of them. But they make great treats for the goatsu2014both pods and leavesu2014when they have quit producing and are ready to be taken down. I usually pick some for the bucks when getting my own, during that time when they are exploding with pea pods.
Sugar snap (or snow) peas are high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, and folate (a B vitamin), iron, and contain several minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, iron and potassium.
One of my goatsu2019 favorites is carrots. I always plant enough to get me through the winter, if possible. When I pick them I often remove the top greens and feed them directly to the goats. These greens are high in manganese, which is good for bones and skin and helps to control blood sugar.
I also cut up carrots and give them to the goats in a big bowl. The roots (carrots) are full of vitamins C, B, B2, and A. One cup of raw carrots has over 1200 IU of vitamin A. They are a good source of fiber and antioxidants, too. One study (in humans) found decrease in cardiovascular disease correlated with carrot intake. Carrots also contain the minerals molybdenum, potassium, copper and phosphorus.
Beets are another great root vegetable that are nutritious for goats. As with carrots, goats can eat both greens and the root. The beet should be cut into smaller pieces to avoid choking.
Beets are high in manganese, vitamin A, folate (a B vitamin) and vitamin B-6, vitamin C, thiamine, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid.
On the downside, beets contain oxalates, which if eaten if a large quantity can lead to urinary stonesu2014a problem found more commonly in wethersu2014and oxalate toxicity, which can cause restlessness, muscle tremors, weakness, torticollis (a twisting of the head to one side, with painful muscle spasms) and ultimately death.
Another plant that naturally goes with goats is the sunflower. While growing sunflowers and harvesting all the seeds for goats would probably not be worth the labor if you were trying to replace the black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) that many add to their goatsu2019 grain ration, they can be a nice supplement. The whole plant is edible, too, including stalk and leaves. And the seeds donu2019t have to be hardened for the goats to like them. If you have plenty of sunflowers, just break the head off of one or more and break into pieces for the goats or remove a few leaves for a snack.
In terms of vitamins, sunflower seeds are loaded with vitamin E and also contain vitamins A, B, and D. They are high in protein and contain the minerals iron, zinc and magnesium. And goats love them!
Greensu2014ranging from lettuce to spinach to parsley and kale, are fast and easy to grow and provide a nutritious supplement for goats. These all provide dietary fiber to goats, and their nutritional values depend on the type of green. Iceberg lettuce has less nutritional value, while kale and spinach are better. They contain varying amounts of various vitamins and minerals, as well as oxalates. High-oxalate greens include kale, spinach and swiss chard, so should not be fed in large quantities.
Pumpkins and squash can produce a nice autumn snack for goats and will be available after some of the prior plants are done producing. Goats can eat both the fruit and the seeds. The seeds are a fantastic source of both zinc and vitamin E, as well as a diverse array of antioxidants. Besides being a good source of protein (some are up to 35% protein), pumpkin and other squash seeds contain the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron and copper, and lots of B-complex vitamins.
Many types of squash will keep over the winter, so they can be doled out as treats during cold weather. They are also full of beta carotene and vitamin A, supporting good vision as well as aiding immune function and assisting with growth of bone and connective tissue.
Folklore has it that pumpkin seeds are an effective dewormer. A small study in Delaware showed a small decrease in fecal egg count in goats given pumpkin seed and some studies have shown similar effects in humans, but more study needs to be done. Relying on pumpkin seeds alone for preventing internal parasites is a mistake, unless you are also doing routine fecal exams to identify problems.
To feed squash or pumpkin to a goat, simply cut it in small pieces and serve in a bowl or break the squash open and put in the field. Most goats will be excited about it, but like with other foods, some may not be interested.
When adding any of these garden vegetables to a goatu2019s diet, start feeding in small quantitiesu2014in addition to their normal diet of hay and any browse they eatu2014to avoid digestive upset. Rather than providing all of it at once, pick a little each day and share with your goats for an afternoon snack or at regular feeding times. They will love you for it and their health will show it.
