What forage do your goats like best?

Our two new goats are adjusting well to life on our homestead. They respect the electric netting and have found a bunch of favorite forage as we rotate them through the land.
I have identified that their all time favorite so far seems to be berries and leaves from our soap berry tree. They go absolutely nuts for them!
They also love the mimosa, honey locust, cat briar and privet bushes. They will eat some elm, oak and various other things but the first ones listed seem to be the most desirable.
To me, it is endlessly enjoyable to just watch them browse.
I’m curious to know from other goat owners what kind of forage their goats like best from their property?

When I had goats they liked to forage grass because that is all I had.

Where I live now, I like to watch my neighbors goats.  They have prickly pear, agarita, live oaks, other kinds of oaks and various native plants.  Though since I only observe I don't know what they like best.

One key to managing animals on forage is to have your system set up so that they have to eat at least some of everything there, rather than just their favorites.  You can do this with relatively small enclosures moved frequently, or tethering, or cut and carry systems.  The danger with a few animals in large enclosures is that, like little kids, they will eat the dessert first and then move on to the other things (or else complain that there isn't more dessert!)  Over time only the least palatable and nutritious things will be left.  This is part of the Allan Savory critique of the idea of overgrazing and that one problem with rangeland management is not too many animals, but too few, and not enough management.  This is exacerbated by the fact that in many climates only a few of the forage species are evergreen, or in leaf when most other things aren't.  If you are interested in primarily feeding your animals through the year from the site, you might even fence off groups of the evergreens (privets, honeysuckle, greenbriers, eleagnus come first to mind) and reserve access to these for the winter season.

Goats love to browse, so the best thing you can do is make sure an area has multiple different plants growing in it.  Glad to hear they are staying in their electric netting, mine always jumped over it.  I have a pygmy and two nigerian dwarfs and they like totally different material.  But they will all gladly eat the leaves and bark of all my trees.  They also all love honeysuckle and poison ivy.  They will eat grass but that would be the last choice.  

Alder Burns wrote:One key to managing animals on forage is to have your system set up so that they have to eat at least some of everything there, rather than just their favorites.  You can do this with relatively small enclosures moved frequently, or tethering, or cut and carry systems.  The danger with a few animals in large enclosures is that, like little kids, they will eat the dessert first and then move on to the other things (or else complain that there isn't more dessert!)  Over time only the least palatable and nutritious things will be left.  This is part of the Allan Savory critique of the idea of overgrazing and that one problem with rangeland management is not too many animals, but too few, and not enough management.  This is exacerbated by the fact that in many climates only a few of the forage species are evergreen, or in leaf when most other things aren't.  If you are interested in primarily feeding your animals through the year from the site, you might even fence off groups of the evergreens (privets, honeysuckle, greenbriers, eleagnus come first to mind) and reserve access to these for the winter season.

Alder,
Thank you for this input, it is very welcome! I am experiencing the “complaining when they don’t have the “dessert” in their enclosure” situation. We use the electric fencing but it could definitely be too large of a space for them. I guess my concern was that if I didn’t give them what they preferred then they may eat a toxic forage.
I think we may need to either get more goats or just create smaller paddocks
Also, we have been collecting forage from small trees we’re clearing and bringing them too the paddock.
Is there a book that you could recommend for grazing techniques? I am very eager to learn more and manage my land well. I consider the soil health and regeneration as highest priority.
Thanks again for your help!

Aimee Bacon wrote:Goats love to browse, so the best thing you can do is make sure an area has multiple different plants growing in it.  Glad to hear they are staying in their electric netting, mine always jumped over it.  I have a pygmy and two nigerian dwarfs and they like totally different material.  But they will all gladly eat the leaves and bark of all my trees.  They also all love honeysuckle and poison ivy.  They will eat grass but that would be the last choice.  

Thanks for your comment, Aimee.
It is interesting that your two different breeds like different things. Since my goats are the Nubian milk goats I assume they can be more picky because of their genetics. I see a lot of people whose goats seem to eat everything but they probably stay in a stationary area.
Luckily, they haven’t jumped over the netting yet. I sure hope they don’t learn that. Heh.

Anne Miller wrote:When I had goats they liked to forage grass because that is all I had.

Where I live now, I like to watch my neighbors goats.  They have prickly pear, agarita, live oaks, other kinds of oaks and various native plants.  Though since I only observe I don't know what they like best.

Hey, Anne. Thank you for this input. I’ve noticed they eat one type of oak but not the other. They are way more particular than I thought they’d be that’s for sure.
When I spot them eating grass I’m like, “hey you’re not supposed to like grass!” Lol

A goats all time favorite food is alfalfa hay. They love whole corn kernals. A good crop of fall turnips will give them a little treat over winter. Alot of wild forage is seasonal.  They'll eat bamboo leaves in midwinter and they love kudzu in Summer. Some plants are only tasty once frost hits hard in fall like privet.  The like locust pods some if they are fresh and they love acorns. Unfortunately fruit tree bark is relished and that kills my trees.  I am sorry I ever got goats but somehow Ive had them all my life.Theyve got wonderful personalities. They'll find a way into your garden one way or another and they'll demolish tomato plants, laugh while killing your hottest peppers and everything in there except the weeds! Gotta love em.