Are Any Plants Poisonous to Goats?
There are more than 700 species of plants in the United States that have been recognized as causing toxicity in ruminants. Plants dangerous to goats are more likely to be ingested when the animals are near starvation and eat plants they normally would avoid, however, that isn’t the only time a goat will feed on toxic plant life. Goats are often used in the clearing of woodlands and wetlands, thus exposing them to casual ingestion of plants that are toxic to goats. Sometimes hay contains dried toxic weeds which can poison a goat. Poisonous plants for goats may also be eaten when they are allowed to feed on landscape or garden plants.
Poisonous Plants for Goats
There are few plants goats can’t eat; the more important consideration is those they shouldn’t eat. Not every poisonous plant is deadly, as many have various levels of toxicity causing different effects. Some can be immediate while others may be cumulative and build up in the body over time. The type of poisonous plant and the amount the animal has ingested will determine the level of toxicity. Plants toxic to goats that should be avoided include: Garden/Landscape Plants
Black Cohosh
Bloodroot
Carolina Jessamine
Celandine
Poppy
Bleeding Heart
Fumewort
Hellebore
Larkspur
Lupine
Corn Cockle
Ivy
Lily of the Valley
Milkweed
White Snakeroot
Lantana
Sneezeweed
St. John’s Wort
Wolfsbane/Monkshood
Dutchman’s Breeches/Staggerweed
Parsnips
Shrubs/Trees
Boxwood
Carolina Allspice
Oleander
Rhododendron
Wild Black Cherry
Wild Hydrangea
Black Locust
Buckeye
Cherry
Chokecherry
Elderberry
Laurel
Weeds/Grasses
Johnson Grass
Sorghum
Sudangrass
Velvetgrass
Buckwheat
Rape/Rapeseed
Nightshade
Poison Hemlock
Rattleweed
Horsenettle
Indian Poke
Jimsonweed
Death Camas
Water Hemlock
Additional plants dangerous to goats that are not likely to cause a severe reaction but may make the animal uncomfortable include:
Baneberry
Buttercups
Cocklebur
Creeping Charlie
Lobelia
Sandbur
Spurges
Inkberry
Pokeweed
Pine Trees
