The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: laurelrus on June 16, 2017, 10:11:55 am
-
Just a quick question - a neighbour is cutting back Ash trees and has offered us branches for the pygmy goats - is this okay for them to eat?
Thank you!
-
yes in moderation. Might make them a bit loose... I wouldn't give lots without other branches as well...
-
My ones prefer it over brambles and sycamore. They have variety of different planta though
-
Thought sycamore was a no-no?
Why? Mine have sycamore branches in their (almost) daily bundles...
-
The best thing to do with sycamore is to feed it to goats.
-
Thought sycamore was a no-no?
Maybe for horses as it's high in tanins. Goats love it
-
I found the milk amount reduced for a few days when they had a lot of sycamore.
-
I've never given much in one go so I didn't know that. I always took secateurs with me when out dog walking so that I could 'cut back over hanging trees'. There was always the risk that someone seven feet tall would walk into one otherwise. The goats had a good selection that way and the trees didn't lose too much.
-
Too much elder dramatically reduces milk production too but again in moderation is beneficial.
-
Just check it's Ash and not mountain ash.
Ash is good for milk production as long as you don't give too much.