What Do Goats Eat in Australia?

Goats are often described as animals that "eat anything" — and while this reputation has some basis in truth (they are far more adventurous eaters than sheep or cattle), it's also misleading. Goats have specific nutritional needs, preferences, and sensitivities. Getting their diet right is fundamental to their health, productivity, and longevity. Understanding what goats eat — and what they should never eat — in Australian conditions is one of the most important skills a goat keeper can develop.

The Basics: Goats Are Browsers, Not Just Grazers

The key to understanding goat nutrition is recognising that goats evolved as browsers — animals that eat leaves, twigs, bark, shrubs, forbs, and a wide variety of plants — not as dedicated grazers like sheep or cattle, which primarily eat grasses.

In the wild, goats in their native habitats (mountainous regions of the Middle East and Central Asia) would eat a diverse diet of shrubs, woody plants, forbs (broadleaf plants), and grasses depending on availability. This browsing nature has important implications for Australian producers:

• Goats are excellent for weed control — they'll eat thistles, blackberries, lantana (with caution), and other invasive plants that sheep and cattle ignore
• They preferentially select the most nutritious parts of plants — young shoots, leaf tips, seed heads, flowers
• They are more selective grazers than sheep, which means they can appear to "waste" pasture by grazing selectively before sheep would find the same paddock overgrazed
• They are higher risk for plant toxicity than sheep because they explore a wider range of plant species

What Goats Eat in Australia: Natural Pasture and Vegetation

Grasses

Despite their browsing preference, Australian goats readily graze grasses and will do so especially when other options are limited. Common Australian grasses that goats consume:

Temperate grasses (southern Australia): - Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) — palatable and nutritious - Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) — good but can cause staggers; see cautions below - Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) — palatable, drought-tolerant - Fescue (Festuca spp.) — good in cooler climates - Sub-clover and annual medics — excellent nitrogen-fixing legumes, high protein

Tropical and subtropical grasses (northern Australia): - Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) — widely available in arid zones; good nutrition when green - Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) — good protein, widely used in central/northern QLD - Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) — very common in coastal NSW and QLD; highly productive - Setaria (Setaria sphacelata) — can accumulate oxalate; see cautions - Pangola (Digitaria eriantha) — tropical areas

Native grasses: - Native wallaby grass, kangaroo grass, windmill grass, button grass — all palatable and nutritious when green - In semi-arid and arid zones, native grasses are often the primary forage base

Legumes

Legumes are the powerhouse of any goat's diet — high in protein and energy compared to grasses. In Australia:

• Sub-clover (Trifolium subterraneum): Dominant legume in southern pastures; very palatable and nutritious. Can cause estrogenic effects in breeding does if heavily dominant in the diet (phyto-oestrogens)
• White clover (Trifolium repens): Excellent; can cause bloat in high quantities on lush pasture
• Annual medics (Medicago spp.): Common in drier regions; good protein source
• Lucerne/Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): One of the highest quality livestock feeds available; excellent for dairy does and growing weaners. Can cause bloat if fed solely as fresh green lucerne

Shrubs and Browse

In semi-arid and arid Australia, shrubs often provide the primary or supplementary nutrition for rangeland goats:

• Saltbush (Atriplex spp.): Highly palatable and nutritious; one of the most important drought fodders in semi-arid zones. High in sodium — ensure adequate water availability
• Bluebush (Maireana spp.): Similar nutritional value to saltbush; widespread in SA and WA
• Mulga (Acacia aneura): Browse and seed pods are nutritious; goats eat leaves, pods, and bark
• Mitchell grass pods and forbs: Nutritious forbs are available after rain in semi-arid zones
• Weeds and thistles: Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum), skeleton weed, serrated tussock — all consumed by goats; some have nutritional value, others are problematic

Supplementary Feeds Used in Australian Goat Farming

When pasture alone is insufficient — during drought, in late pregnancy, during lactation, or when growing weaners intensively — supplementary feeds are essential.

Hay

The most common and widely used supplementary feed in Australia.

Oaten hay: - Energy: ~8–9 MJ ME/kg dry matter (DM) - Protein: 7–10% - Most common and affordable hay; good all-purpose roughage - Best suited as maintenance feed for dry does and wethers

Lucerne hay: - Energy: ~9–10 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 16–22% - Excellent for late pregnancy, lactating does, and weaners - Higher cost but far superior protein content - Feed as part of a ration, not as the sole roughage (can cause bloat and urinary issues in bucks/wethers on lucerne only)

Grass hay (wheaten, barley, pasture hay): - Energy: ~7–9 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 6–10% - Good roughage; quality varies enormously by cutting time and species

Clover/mixed legume hay: - Energy: ~9–10 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 14–18% - Good quality; less common than straight oaten or lucerne hay

Buying hay tips: - Buy hay before you need it — prices spike in drought - Test hay quality if purchasing large volumes (NIR testing, $30–$60 per sample, available through most state labs) - Store under cover — rain-damaged hay loses nutrition rapidly and can go mouldy

Silage

Fermented, high-moisture forage preserved in plastic-wrapped bales or pits. Less common for small goat operations but used in commercial dairy operations.

• Pasture silage: Good energy, variable protein
• Lucerne silage: High protein, excellent for dairy does
• Ensure silage is well-fermented and free from mould before feeding (mould = listeriosis risk)

Grain and Concentrates

Whole or processed grains significantly boost energy intake, particularly for growing animals, bucks in rut, and lactating does.

Oats: - Energy: ~11 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 10–12% - Safest grain for goats — lower starch than wheat or barley, lower bloat/acidosis risk - Introduce gradually over 2 weeks before feeding at full rate - Best starting grain for beginners

Barley: - Energy: ~12.5 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 11–13% - Good energy density; higher acidosis risk than oats if introduced too quickly - Often crushed or steam-flaked for better digestibility

Wheat: - Energy: ~13 MJ ME/kg DM - Highest starch content — highest acidosis risk - Only feed to goats accustomed to grain, in small amounts, and ideally mixed with oats or other lower-starch feeds - Not recommended for beginners

Lupins: - Energy: ~12.5 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 28–32% — one of the highest-protein grains available - Excellent for bucks, does in late pregnancy, and recovery from poor condition - Feed as a protein supplement alongside energy feeds

Corn (maize): - Energy: ~13.5 MJ ME/kg DM - Protein: 9–10% - High energy, moderate protein - Common in feedlot finishing rations - Rolled or cracked for better digestibility

Commercial Goat Pellets and Mixes

Commercially formulated goat feeds are available from most rural merchandise stores:

• Convenience: Balanced energy, protein, and mineral content in one product
• Cost: Higher per kilogram than home-mixed grain but more reliable nutritionally
• Best for: Small hobby herds, weaners in early life, does in late pregnancy when you want a reliable balanced ration
• Brands in Australia: Barastoc, Mitavite, White River, and various state-based brands

Mineral Supplements

Minerals are often the "forgotten" part of goat nutrition but are critically important.

Salt (sodium chloride): - Goats have a specific salt appetite; provide free-choice loose salt or a salt lick - Important for controlling water intake and mineral balance - Particularly important for goats on saltbush-heavy diets (very high sodium — actually reduces need for additional salt)

Copper: - Goats require significantly more copper than sheep - Deficiency signs: poor coat condition (straight, dull fleece in Angoras; rough, pale coat in Boers), reduced growth, reproductive failure, poor immune function, neurological symptoms in kids ("swayback") - Never use sheep mineral blocks for goats — they are copper-restricted (because copper is toxic to sheep) and will not meet goat requirements - Use goat-specific blocks, loose goat minerals, or copper oxide wire particles (from your vet)

Selenium: - Selenium deficiency is widespread in Australian soils, particularly in SE Australia - Deficiency causes: white muscle disease (muscular dystrophy) in kids; poor immune function; reproductive failure in does - Supplement via: selenium-containing mineral blocks, Deposel injection (long-acting selenium), Multimin (multi-mineral injection), or adding sodium selenite to loose minerals (at precise, vet-advised rates — selenium toxicity is also possible)

Calcium and Phosphorus: - Calcium:phosphorus ratio should be approximately 2:1 in the total diet - Imbalance (particularly excess phosphorus from grain-only diets with no roughage) causes urinary calculi (urinary blockage) in wethers and bucks - Lucerne hay is an excellent calcium source - Always feed roughage alongside grain — never grain alone

Iodine: - Deficiency is common in some Australian regions - Affects thyroid function; causes goitre in kids, poor reproduction in does - Address via iodine-containing mineral blocks or a vet-prescribed supplement

Nutrition Requirements by Class of Animal

Plants Toxic to Goats in Australia

This is critically important. Goats' browsing behaviour means they explore and consume a wide range of plants — including many that are toxic. Learn to identify toxic plants on your property before your goats do.

Highly Toxic Plants (can cause rapid death)

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Very common in coastal QLD and NSW; causes liver damage and photosensitisation. Goats will browse it — but it can be fatal
• Rhododendron and azaleas: Common garden plants; all parts toxic; causes vomiting, weakness, and cardiac arrest
• Oleander (Nerium oleander): Common ornamental; extremely toxic — even a few leaves can kill a goat
• Bracken fern (Pteridium esculentum): Widespread across coastal Australia; causes thiaminase breakdown, aplastic anaemia, and cancers with chronic exposure. Goats sometimes eat it when hungry
• St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): Causes photosensitisation (severe sunburn, facial eczema)
• Nightshade species (Solanum spp.): Black nightshade and other Solanum species are toxic; can be common in overgrazed or disturbed areas
• Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium): Toxic essential oils
• Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum): Causes pyrrolizidine alkaloid liver toxicity with heavy consumption; goats generally avoid it but may eat it when forage is scarce

Caution Plants (problematic in large quantities or specific conditions)

• Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica): Can cause "phalaris staggers" — a neurological condition caused by alkaloids; more common after stress or sudden access to lush growth after a dry period. Introduce carefully and graze with caution after summer dormancy
• Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum): Generally safe but can cause bloat on lush kikuyu, particularly in young animals
• Subclover (Trifolium subterraneum): Phyto-oestrogens in high concentrations can affect fertility in does; cycle the pasture with other species to avoid dominance
• Oxalate grasses (setaria, kikuyu sometimes): High oxalate accumulation under certain conditions can cause hypocalcaemia; ensure calcium-rich roughage is available alongside
• Ryegrass (perennial): Can host endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) that causes ryegrass staggers in summer; choose low or nil endophyte varieties when sowing
• Avocado: Leaves, skin, seed, and bark all toxic to goats; affects heart and causes breathing problems
• Yew trees: Extremely toxic; common ornamental; avoid all contact

Important Rule: Don't Clip Garden Waste Into Goat Paddocks

Many common Australian garden plants are toxic to goats. Never throw garden clippings over the fence without knowing what they are. Oleander, rhododendrons, azaleas, wisteria, and many other ornamentals are poisonous.

Water Requirements

Water is a nutrient too — and often overlooked. Goats need clean, fresh water available at all times.

Daily water requirements: - Dry does: 2–4 litres/day - Lactating does: 6–15 litres/day (depending on milk production) - Growing weaners: 1–3 litres/day - In hot weather: All figures can double

Water quality matters: Goats are sensitive to poor water quality and may refuse to drink water that is algae-contaminated, stagnant, or has high salinity. If goats are not drinking, check water quality and cleanliness.

Salinity: Goats can tolerate slightly higher salinity levels than sheep, but water with total dissolved solids (TDS) above 5,000 mg/L will start to reduce intake and performance.

Feeding Tips for Australian Conditions

1. Don't change the diet suddenly: Any significant dietary change (new hay, sudden access to grain, new pasture) should be introduced gradually over 5–10 days to allow the rumen microbiome to adjust

2. Bloat risk: Most common when goats have sudden access to lush legume pasture (clover, lucerne). Prevent by grazing goats on dry hay before releasing onto fresh pasture; use bloat oils or sprays if risk is high

3. Acidosis risk: From rapid introduction of high-starch grains. Always introduce grain gradually and ensure adequate roughage is always available (minimum 60% of diet as roughage by dry matter)

4. Urinary calculi in males: Caused by calcium:phosphorus imbalance; prevented by adequate roughage, water access, and a proper mineral balance. Lucerne hay is an excellent preventive

5. Adjust feeding in drought: Monitor body condition score (BCS) regularly. A BCS below 2.5 (scale 1–5) means the animal is losing condition and needs supplementary feeding

Conclusion

Australian goats are resourceful and adaptable foragers, capable of thriving on a wide range of native and introduced pastures, hays, grains, and browse species. But "eating anything" doesn't mean "nutritional needs don't matter." A goat on poor nutrition will have reproductive failures, poor growth, weak kids, a compromised immune system, and shortened productive life.

Understand your region's pasture species, supplement intelligently during periods of low pasture availability, provide appropriate minerals — especially copper and selenium — and know which plants on your property could harm or kill your goats.

Good nutrition is the cheapest insurance you can buy for a healthy, productive goat herd.

For plant identification help, contact your local Landcare group, state agricultural department, or pasture agronomist. For specific mineral supplementation programs, consult your local agricultural vet.