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Goats and even cows sometimes eat cactus in spite of their spines. |
Forget most of what you've read or heard about what is edible and what animals do and don't eat AND what you've been told about what cows eat in comparison to sheep and goats. Animals don't avoid plants because they are prickly or because they taste bad. Cows can and will eat shrubs and forbs, and goats can and do eat grass.
Animals Have to LEARN what to Eat!?
How do animals choose what to eat? Research has shown that animals learn what they should eat from their mothers, their herd mates, and from internal feedback they get from plant. Thus, what is "edible" depends on the animal's past experience, the animal's current nutritional state, and the nutrients and toxins in the plant. The more nutrients a plant contains, they more palatable it is. The more toxins it contains, the less palatable it is. All plants contain toxins, but very few are so high in toxins that they are considered toxic or "poisonous."
Nutrients and Toxins
Plants such as sagebrush or those we call weeds are often quite nutritious. Some are even the equivalent of alfalfa. They also generally contain higher levels of toxins. Scientists have found that animals can learn to mix forages to offset effects of toxins, and that some toxins are complementary, allowing animals to increase their consumption when they are eaten in combination.
Deciding What's Edible
Before you decide what is and is not edible, find out what toxins the plant contains, and what supplements or forages might offset its effects. You might be surprised at what your animals are capable of eating! Then keep in mind that your animals will need a little time to learn to eat a new plant. Even goats, reknowned for their ability to eat "anything" may not try a new plant if there are other familiar forages available to them. The Simple Steps for Turning Your Livestock Into Weed Managers are designed to provide the learning environment an animal needs when trying new foods.
To learn more about how animals decide what to eat and what to avoid check out "About Behavior."
