Bull Thistle

[ONThorsegirl]

Do Goats really like eatting Bull Thistle? Our farm has literly been taken over by Bull Thistle and if Goats really do like eating it, it might give me an excuse to getting a goat or 2.

Melissa

[vallyfarm]

I live in upstate NY, and my goats go after the thistle after their first pass over in a new paddock. The thistle HAS to be on the younger/lusher side for them to eat it, but my goats are more spoiled than most. They seem to go for it before most "grasses", but after all the golden rod, wild rose, queen anne's lace, etc. If they get to the thistle before it gets too old and tough they will eat it down to the crown. Mike

[pookshollow]

I noticed one of my goats chowing down on it a couple of weeks ago, so, yes, I guess they do.

I was pulling out cockleburrs from one of our pastures (the only one that has them) before I let the horses back in it, and while I was there, I stomped on the thistles that were growing - they're very fragile and broke right off. Then I noticed one of the horses chewing on a clump and another horse trying to steal it. According to the book, "Foal to Five Years", horses really like wilted thistles. Who'da thunk it?

[fishhead]

My goats didn't seem to eat the thistles in one of their pastures but later I did notice they kept ones that had been trampled from regrowing.

I once watched a horse eat a 5' tall thistle that had been freshly cut. It ate the whole plant from the stump end just like spaghetti.

If you get goats make sure to get at least 2.

[prairiecomforts]

My goats love it!! I have one especially who just gobbles it down! This spring when we were doing our yard clean up, there were several thisles that had blown in around our garden fence, so the kids and I were working to get them out of there. As we were working, we let the goats out and they made a straight bee line for the thisle and cleaned up the whole fence line for us!!