Can Goats Eat Tansy? (Read Before Feeding)

Goats should not eat tansy as it is toxic and can cause irreversible liver damage in wildlife and livestock. Tansy ragwort, in particular, is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cattle and horses.

Avoid feeding goats tansy or any other toxic plants to ensure their health and well-being. Livestock owners must always be cautious about what they feed their animals, especially when it comes to goats.

While goats are known for their ability to eat a wide variety of plants, there are certain plants that can be harmful or even toxic to them.

One such plant is tansy, a common weed that is not safe for goats to consume. Tansy, and particularly tansy ragwort, contains poisonous alkaloids that can cause chronic liver disease and even death in livestock if ingested in certain amounts.

We will explore the risks associated with goats eating tansy and why it is important to avoid feeding them this toxic plant. We will also provide information on other potentially harmful plants that should be avoided when feeding goats.

The Feeding Habits Of Goats

Goats have unique feeding habits and preferences, and their natural diet consists of a variety of plants and vegetation. While goats can eat common tansy, it is important to note that it may not be suitable for all livestock.

Sheep and goats, unlike other livestock, can eat common tansy without any ill effects, and they may even prefer it over grass. However, if goats have been primarily eating hay during the winter, they may need to be retrained to eat tansy.

Other plants such as tansy ragwort, nightshade, and peavine can also be browsed by goats in limited quantities. It is important to consider the potential toxicity of plants and provide adequate and proper forage for the animals.

Common Tansy And Its Attraction To Goats

Sheep and goats, unlike other livestock, have no ill effects from eating common tansy and will enthusiastically eat the weed to the ground and hardly touch the grass. Sheep and goats can be used for control of tansy. They do, however, need to be retrained to eat tansy after eating hay all winter. Other plants such as tansy ragwort, nightshade and peavine can be browsed by goats in limited quantities and it shouldn’t be a problem. The invasive plant is unpalatable to cattle and can be toxic because of the chemical thujone. Tansy ragwort causes loss of pasture for grazing animals, unthrifty livestock, and death of animals. When prevalent, tansy ragwort is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cattle and horses, caused by consumption of the weed found in pasture, hay or silage. Poisoning can be easily avoided since tansymustard is green earlier in the spring than most forage species. Tansymustard is fair to good forage for sheep and goats.

Potential Risks Of Goats Eating Tansy

Sheep and goats, unlike other livestock, have no ill effects from eating common tansy and will enthusiastically eat the weed to the ground and hardly touch the grass. They can be used for control of tansy. However, they need to be retrained to eat tansy after eating hay all winter.

Other plants such as tansy ragwort, nightshade, and peavine can be browsed by goats in limited quantities and it shouldn’t be a problem. The invasive plant is unpalatable to cattle and can be toxic because of the chemical thujone.

Tansy ragwort is toxic to all classes of livestock but most toxic to cattle and horses. At doses likely to be ingested, it causes chronic liver disease. Tansy ragwort is invasive, toxic, and can be lethal to livestock.

Tansy mustard is fair to good forage for sheep and goats, and poisoning can be easily avoided since it is green earlier in the spring than most forage species.

Managing Goats’ Tansy Consumption

Sheep and goats are unique among livestock as they can eat common tansy without any ill effects and often prefer it over grass. In fact, they can even be used to control tansy populations. However, after a winter diet of hay, they may need to be retrained to eat tansy again.

While tansy is generally safe for sheep and goats, it is important to ensure they have access to proper forage to reduce the risk of excessive tansy consumption.

Other plants such as tansy ragwort, nightshade, and peavine can also be browsed by goats in limited quantities without causing harm.

However, it is important to note that tansy ragwort is toxic to livestock, particularly cattle and horses, and can cause serious illness and even death. For the safety of your goats, it is crucial to maintain a proper forage diet and avoid allowing them to consume harmful plants.

Overall, while goats can eat tansy, it is important to manage their consumption and ensure they have access to a diverse and proper forage diet to keep them healthy and safe.

Other Plants That Goats Can Safely Consume

While goats can eat common tansy without any ill effects, it is important to note that other plants should be incorporated into their diets with caution. Some alternative plant options for goats include tansy ragwort, nightshade, and peavine, as long as they are consumed in limited quantities. However, it is crucial to understand that tansy ragwort, in particular, can be toxic to livestock, especially cattle and horses, due to the presence of poisonous alkaloids. Tansymustard, on the other hand, can serve as fair to good forage for sheep and goats, but it is essential to avoid excessive consumption to prevent poisoning. Overall, while certain plants can be safely consumed by goats, it is crucial to research and identify potential risks and limitations before incorporating them into their diets.

Frequently Asked Questions Of Can Goats Eat Tansy

Is Tansy Poisonous To Livestock?

Tansy is not poisonous to sheep and goats. They can eat common tansy without any ill effects and can be used for controlling the weed. However, other livestock may find tansy unpalatable or toxic due to the chemical thujone. It is important to provide adequate forage and prevent pets from consuming tansy.

What Is Tansy Poisonous To?

Tansy is poisonous to cattle and horses when consumed in large amounts. However, sheep and goats have no adverse effects from eating tansy and can be used to control its growth.

Can Goats Eat Tansy Mustard?

Goats can eat tansy mustard, as it is fair to good forage for them and poisoning can be easily avoided. Tansy mustard is green earlier in the spring than most forage species. However, it is important to note that tansy ragwort, a related plant, is toxic to livestock.

What Native Plants Are Toxic To Goats?

Some examples of native plants that are toxic to goats include azaleas, China berries, sumac, dog fennel, bracken fern, curly dock, eastern baccharis, honeysuckle, nightshade, pokeweed, red root pigweed, black cherry, Virginia creeper, and crotalaria.

Conclusion

Goats can safely eat tansy without experiencing any negative effects. Unlike other livestock, such as cattle and horses, goats have no ill effects from consuming common tansy. They can even be used to control tansy by grazing on the weed.

However, it’s important to note that goats may need to be retrained to eat tansy after consuming hay during the winter. Overall, tansy can be a suitable forage option for goats, but proper management and access to other nutritious forage should be provided to ensure their health and well-being.