Pine cones

[cowboyt]

Will goats eat pine cones? Are they safe? My neighbor has a couple big trees i can get them from for free.

[dozedotz]

We are in MO and have short leaf and white pine on much of our heavily treed property. The goats relish the needles they leave the cones on the branches or on the ground...both does and bucks. Just our experience...

[cowboyt]

Ok thank you

[mygoat]

They might be able to but I doubt they would choose to do so, and if they were forced to they have almost no nutrition.

[kasilofhome]

would it depend on the type of cone....I am planning growing Siberian stone pine....it is a nut tree mature trees produce 40 pounds of nuts. I was informed that they are forage for animals. Came to mind black sunflower seed and how good that is for goats.

[mygoat]

Pine nuts are tasty. Most average pines are not stone pines, though, and have tiny seeds. And if eating the whole cone, the nutrition would be 'diluted' by the actual cone.

[Frosted Mini's]

Besides, that would be a valuable human food that I wouldn't like to share with my goats. And you wouldn't put the tree in their area because they would just destroy it, so you'd have to harvest the cones for the goats...might as well get the pine nuts out for yourself or sell them. They are quite expensive!

[kasilofhome]

My plan is to line a row of these trees tell feet out side of the fence of the goats. It would sever on time wind breaker and some day fire wood.

The cost is going to be to my liking.....cheap. lots of sweat and time.

The quantity of trees would be more than two people could eat ...it will take 160 trees. ...the trees them selves will be fence in to protect them from the moose.

[kasilofhome]

Well it will be many years to harvest. If I am planting something I seek to find some the edible.