Plants that are poisonous to goats

Goats have a reputation for eating anything. The truth is more careful, and it matters to the people who work with them. They are browsers with real preferences, and they also include plants that can make them sick or kill them. This is one of the main reasons a grazing company walks your site before the herd arrives.

Why goats can eat poison oak but not oleander

Goats can eat poison oak and poison ivy without the rash people get, because the oil that causes the rash does not harm them. See why goats eat poison oak safely. But being able to handle one plant says nothing about another. Different plants carry different toxins, and some of them are harmful to goats in small amounts.

Plants we watch for in California

These are among the common plants that are poisonous to goats:

• Oleander. A common hedge and landscape shrub across California. It is toxic to livestock and stays toxic when dried.
• Rhododendron and azalea. Common in landscaping and near older homes.
• Hemlock. Poison hemlock grows along roadsides, ditches and creeks. Do not confuse it with the hemlock tree.
• Castor bean. Grows as a tall weedy shrub in disturbed ground.
• Avocado. The leaves, bark and pits are a concern for goats, which matters on properties with avocado trees.
• Chokecherry. Wilted leaves are a particular risk.
• Locoweed. A range plant in parts of the West.
• Tree tobacco. A weedy shrub common in disturbed California ground.

This is not a complete list. For a fuller list, the Cornell University Poisonous Plants Informational Database is a good reference.

What a site review covers

Before the herd arrives, the herder walks the property to:

1. Identify toxic plants in or beside the grazing area.
2. Decide whether to fence them out, flag them or have them removed.
3. Plan the fence cells so goats move through the good forage and not past the bad.
4. Check that water and shade are available so the herd is not tempted to eat what it normally avoids.

A good site review is also a reason to give the estimator accurate information. If you know a hedge of oleander runs along the back fence, say so.

What you can do

• Tell your estimator about any ornamental shrubs, hedges, fruit trees and weeds you know are on the property.
• Do not dump garden clippings in or near the grazing area. Trimmings from oleander or similar plants are a hazard even after cutting.
• Keep the herd's water clean and available. It is the simplest way to keep goats from eating things they shouldn't.

Our preparation checklist covers the rest of what to do before the herd arrives, and the what do goats eat page lists the plants goats are most useful against.

If a goat may have eaten something toxic

This is a veterinary emergency. The herder will contact the herd's veterinarian immediately. If you see a goat acting unwell on your property, tell the herder at once.