Brush Goats and Acorns

[Kimon]

He all, we were thinking of putting some goats out on our brush covered areas of the property but I just read on another site that acorns will kill them. We have oaks in the woods and so now I am concerned. We really thought goats would be a great answer to our problem areas of brush but now I am not so sure. Anyone have any advice?

[ozark_jewels]

It takes a LOT of acorns ingested to kill a goat. My hills are covered in oaks and this time of year the ground is covered in acorns. My herd of goats runs from one oak tree to the next all day long foraging for and gobbling acorns. They have done the same every fall for as long as I've had goats. As long as they have other stuff to browse on, acorns won't hurt them. You might watch them for the first few days and if they spend all their time eating JUST acorns, run them off to another area for a while. Me?? I'd just be thinking, "yeah! More goat food!"

[fishhead]

I would make sure that they have access to baking soda because if I'm not mistaken acorns are acidic.

I've seen deer dig through waist deep snow for acorns. They must have a lot of energy stored.

[sunnygrl]

a goat will eat baking soda?

[Blue Oak Ranch]

It's more the tannic acid, specifically. It's the tannins that can hurt things like horses...and people - acorns were a HUGE part of Native American food resources. People leach acorn meal before it's used as food.

Goats and deer seem to be far more able to handle the tannins in plants like oak and acorns, walnut, and so forth.

The actual pH of oaks or acorns I'd be far less concerned about, rather than a goat unused to them chowing down on a rumenful of a food they're not used to.

Cheers!

Katherine

[Al. Countryboy]

My goats eat acorns every year about this time until they are all gone. They do hit the baking soda a little bit more often during this time also. I also usually cut back on the amount of grain that I feed them also. Yes, goats will eat baking soda and you need to have it where they can get to it when needed. Sometimes I go months without adding any baking soda in their dish and then all of a sudden the bowl is empty. Years ago I lost a beautiful doe that was 3 weeks from kidding. I had a vet. come out and the first thing he ask was where is the baking soda?

[PygmyLover]

Oh acorns are like treats to them! they love the oak leaves too. There is no problems there. Let them ENJOY!

:baby04:

[PygmyLover]

Originally Posted by sunnygrl

a goat will eat baking soda?

Baking soda out free choice is a good idea for all goats. That way if they get a little bloated they can eat it and it helps them burp and relieve the gasses in their rumen.

[fishhead]

Originally Posted by sunnygrl

a goat will eat baking soda?

Yes. It's a pH buffer prevents the rumen pH from dropping too low or rising too high. I think of it as keeping the bacteria population in the rumen healthy. You can buy 50# bags from the feed store for about $9.

[sunnygrl]

good to know I had never heard this before.... I will ask hubby he's the one that had goats growing up Me I had to be happy with a guinea pig

[PygmyLover]

or you can buy regular baking soda from the store - that is what I do to make sure it is always fresh (they don't eat a lot at a time). I only have 4 goats.