The Grazing Habits of Meat Goats

The grazing habits of meat goats should be on the mind of every meat goat producer. Since a meat goat’s diet is a factor that can greatly influence a meat grower’s business, food for the meat goat needs to be top priority for meat goat owners. By observing the grazing habits of meat goats, meat goat owners can effectively figure out the best way to provide their meat goats with the largest and most nutrient rich food source possible.

In most cases, meat goat owners will find that the most cost effective way to feed their goats is to let goats graze on a lush pasture. Not only is this method cost effective, it’s also extremely healthy for the goats. Yet, even if the goats have a pasture to graze on, they will probably still need additional supplements in their diet. Goat owners can observe the grazing habits of their meat goats to identify what their goats might be needing. For example, goats will often eat certain weeds and or leaves to obtain a supplement they need in their diet.

Furthermore, goat owners will find that goats have nomadic characteristics; if they observe, a goat owner will notice that goats specifically like grazing on new ground and hate grazing around their own droppings. In fact, because of this, goats will evenly distribute their droppings throughout a pasture. Even more fascinating, when wet weather occurs goats will often reach for higher vegetation to avoid possible contaminated grasses. Goat owners should make a note that goats need pastures with a wide range of vegetation available.

Goat owners may ponder if it’s healthy for goats to be in a pasture with other animals such as cows. In actuality, allowing goats to share a pasture with animals like cows is both beneficial to the cows and goats. Even better, having such an arrangement is extremely positive for a pasture. As previously mentioned, goats will eat a variety of vegetation including weeds and shrubs that otherwise wouldn’t get eaten; pastures that have cows and goats grazing on them at the same time are often healthier. Additionally, gastrointestinal parasites cannot be passed between goats and cows. Each species has a different form of gastrointestinal parasite that wouldn’t be compatible with the other species. If cows and goats are pastured together, the arrangement can be highly beneficial and has no known health risks for the cows or goats.

By observing the grazing habits of goats, meat goat owners will have healthier pastures and goats.