A “billy goat” is the common term for a male goat, though the name is often used broadly to refer to any domestic goat. Goats are classified as ruminants, possessing a four-compartment stomach that efficiently breaks down fibrous plant material. They are naturally browsers, meaning they prefer to eat the leaves, twigs, and shrubs from woody plants. This is a key distinction from grazers like cattle that primarily consume short grass.
The Goat’s Natural Foraging Style
The natural feeding behavior of the goat is characterized by selectivity and an affinity for varied vegetation. Goats are not efficient grazers; they prefer to consume forbs and the leaves and buds of trees and shrubs, collectively known as browse. While they will eat grass, it typically makes up a smaller portion of their diet, often less than 30%, compared to their preference for brush and woody plants.
This selective process is aided by their highly mobile, prehensile lips and split upper lip, which allow them to carefully pick the most nutritious parts of a plant, such as young leaves or tender shoot tips. Goats frequently stand up on their hind legs to reach higher vegetation, like tree branches, or will use their bodies to push down saplings. By selecting the leaves over the stems, goats ensure they are choosing material that is richer in protein and lower in indigestible cell-wall carbohydrates.
Essential Components of a Balanced Diet
The foundation of a healthy goat diet must be high-quality forage, which provides the necessary fiber for proper rumen function. This roughage can be supplied through good grass hay or browse, and should make up the majority of the goat’s daily intake, ideally 75-80%. Hay should be clean and free of mold or dust. Grass hay like timothy or orchard grass is suitable for maintenance, while alfalfa hay offers higher protein and calcium for pregnant or lactating does.
Supplemental feed, such as grains or pellets, should be used sparingly and only to meet increased nutritional demands, such as during late pregnancy, lactation, or high growth stages. Feeding excessive grain can disrupt the delicate balance of the rumen, potentially leading to serious health issues like bloat or acidosis.
All goats require a constant supply of clean, fresh drinking water, which is essential for digestion and overall health. Mineral and vitamin supplementation is also necessary, and goats must have free-choice access to loose minerals specifically formulated for their species. Goats have a higher requirement of copper compared to sheep, which are highly susceptible to copper toxicity. Therefore, minerals designed for sheep should be avoided, as they lack the sufficient copper levels goats need for coat health and parasite resistance.
Foods and Plants to Strictly Avoid
Goats may consume plants that are toxic due to their curious nature. Common landscaping plants present a danger, with the ingestion of certain species leading to acute poisoning. Highly toxic examples include rhododendron, azalea, and yew, with the latter containing poisonous alkaloids even when the leaves are dried.
Leaves from fruit trees such as wild cherry, chokecherry, and apricot are also dangerous. They contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release lethal cyanide when broken down in the rumen. Many toxic plants, such as nightshade or water hemlock, are generally unpalatable, but goats may consume them if offered as clippings or if they have no other forage options.
Human foods like chocolate, which contains the toxic compound theobromine, and excessive sugary treats or processed kitchen scraps should never be fed. These items can cause severe digestive distress.