Feeding Asparagus to Goats How-to and Concerns

Goats are herbivores, and that means they eat all kinds of plant matter, fruits and vegetables included. However, some vegetables, despite an excellent nutritional profile, may be harmful for goats or are generally disagreeable to them. How about asparagus? Can goats have it?

Yes, goats may eat asparagus safely, though truly excessive amounts might be harmful for them. Asparagus is an excellent inclusion since it’s loaded with good nutrition in the form of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A, many B vitamins, folate and vitamin K are stand out nutrients, along with abundant iron.

Asparagus has much to recommend it when it comes to a nutritional supplement for goats, but like most things you’ll want to know the specifics, both the good and bad, before feeding it to your herd. Keep reading and we will tell you what you need to know.

Benefits of Asparagus for Goats

Although asparagus is something of a polarizing vegetable when it comes to human consumption, there is pretty much consensus among goats- they love the stuff!

And it is a good thing, too, because asparagus is extremely healthy. Asparagus is loaded with vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and folate. It has a little bit of choline, and plenty of vitamin C, E and K.

That alone will be reason enough to include asparagus in a goat’s diet, but it gets better when you look at the mineral content. Asparagus is packed with iron, manganese, phosphorus and zinc, with calcium, magnesium and potassium being present in somewhat smaller amounts.

Can They Eat Asparagus Raw?

Yes, goats may eat asparagus raw with no ill effects, including the stems. This is generally the easiest way to serve it to them and will maximize the nutritional content.

Can They Have Asparagus Cooked?

Yes, goats may eat cooked asparagus, and it could be preferred in case the stems of the asparagus are too tough and woody for them to chew and swallow.

Keep in mind that cooking will deplete the vitamin and mineral profile of asparagus somewhat, though it is still quite healthy after cooking.

Never Feed Asparagus to Goats that Has Been Prepared with Harmful Ingredients

Since we are on the subject of cooking, you must make it a point to never, ever feed asparagus to goats that has been prepared with any harmful ingredients, or used as an ingredient in some dish that they shouldn’t have.

Since asparagus has something of a bitter, bracing taste when cooked plain, many people prepare it with a variety of other seasonings and ingredients, including salt, butter, oils, bacon, cheese, spices and so forth. None of these things are good for goats.

If you are lucky, your goats might only be facing a little bit of indigestion and potentially some weight gain from surplus calories if fed these ingredients regularly, but at worst they could end up suffering from a serious health trouble over it.

No matter how you prefer your asparagus, only give your goats plain asparagus if you are going to cook it for them.

Beware of Pesticide on Grocery-bought Asparagus

Another potential issue with asparagus you must be aware of is the potential presence of pesticides on any grocery store bought produce.

The vast majority of commercial produce is heavily treated with pesticides from planting all the way through harvest in order to protect it from insects, and though they are supposed to be safe plenty of evidence suggests there are anything but for animals.

Ingestion of these pesticides will lead to harmful chemicals accumulating in tissues, and often eventually result in serious health complications, including endocrine system problems and cancer.

You don’t want that for your beloved goats, so make it a point to thoroughly wash any grocery store bought asparagus, or better yet purchase organic varieties that are grown and harvested without the use of pesticides.

The single best thing you can do is to grow and harvest your own, or procure them from a trusted farmer who does not use pesticides.

How Often Can Goats Have Asparagus?

Asparagus is a wholesome and healthy menu item for goats, but they shouldn’t have it all the time. Indeed, consuming too much asparagus can actually cause health issues by building up sulfides in the body.

This is a rare concern for goats because they seem somewhat resistant to the buildup of these compounds (when eating asparagus at least) but it is a good reason why you shouldn’t give it to them every day, or give them too much.

Generally, you can give your goats a couple of servings of asparagus a couple of times a week with no worries, or give them a smaller amount more regularly mixed into other food.

It is worth pointing out that asparagus is a regular component of various livestock feeds, including feed for goats.

Preparing Asparagus for Your Herd

Preparing asparagus for your goats is generally pretty easy. Serving it to the raw or cooked, you can make it easier for them to eat by chopping it up into short, bite-sized lengths instead of leaving it in whole stalks.

Remember that goats can only really chew with their back teeth, and furthermore they cannot open their mouths very wide, so dealing with long, bulky food is very challenging for them.

Can Baby Goats Have Asparagus, Too?

Yes, baby goats can have asparagus so long as they’re old enough where they have switched over to reliably eating solid foods. Once they have reached this age, you can try treating them with a little bit of asparagus to see if they like it.

As with serving all treats to kids, you want to give them a few small bites and then wait to see how they handle it. Assuming there are no stomach troubles or other ill effects, you can give them a little more next time.

Make Sure You Clean Up after Giving Your Goats Asparagus

Though asparagus is not nearly as messy as some other foods that goats like to eat, you still want to make it a point to clean up after them once they are done with it. Asparagus, like most fresh produce, will rot quickly when left in the open and especially in the sun.

If your goats come back around and nibble on rotting asparagus, it could make them sick. Perhaps a greater concern to some, writing asparagus really stinks owing to the high sulfur content, and it can attract pests which can cause problems for you and your goats.

Avoid both unhappy outcomes by promptly cleaning up any uneaten or leftover bits of asparagus once your goats are finished with it.