Some Goats May Experience An Allergic Reaction To Cucumbers!
Read Below To Learn Why!
Cucumbers For Your Goat Herd: Are Cucumbers Nutritious?
Cucumbers are an interesting fruit because of their high water content: each fruit is about 95.9% water.
This leaves many of the nutrients and vitamins that a cucumber contains to minimal quantities, usually only a few milligrams.
For example: while cucumbers do contain iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper (some very essential nutrients for goats) most of these are at quantities between 10 and 0.063mg per 100g serving. In addition, the most essential nutrients in cucumbers are sorely lacking as well, with only:
- 0.62g of Protein
- 2.95g of Carbohydrates
- 0.38g of Ash
- 14 kcal
Needless to say, do not expect your goats to glean substantial dietary supplements from a few servings of cucumbers.
That isn’t to say cucumbers shouldn’t be offered to goats; rather, the high water content can greatly assist your trip of goats to stay hydrated and cool during hot, dry weather.
As the MSD Veterinary Manual states, as little as a 10% overall water loss can be severely damaging to goats.
Overall, cucumbers are relatively healthy for goats. While their lack of dense nutrients means they cannot be offered as anything more than a crunchy treat for goats, they are deeply hydrating and are a great snack option in hot, dry weather.
Can Goats Eat Cucumber Plants?
Yes, goats can safely nibble on cucumber plants. In fact, the cucumber plant is vining and highly fibrous, which makes it an ideal addition to your goat’s foraged diet.
Just be sure to avoid offering your goats yellowed, wilted, or soggy cucumber plants. As picky eaters, they probably won’t eat plants like that anyway, but an extra curious or hungry goat could nibble at them and ingest harmful bacterias or fungus.
Can Goats Eat Cucumber Skin
Yes, the cucumber skin is completely safe for goats to ingest; we never peel the cucumbers we offer our goats.
In fact, the skin of the cucumber plant contains most of the fruit’s fibers, many minerals, and natural antioxidants!
Will And Do Goats Eat Cucumber Skin?
The skin of the cucumber can be quite tough and even be slightly bitter (more on that below!).
This is completely normal and we have yet to have one of our goats turn down a cucumber slice because it is unpeeled.
This goat loves the unpeeled half cucumber it is offered!
Can Goats Have Cucumber Leaves
Yes, the large leaves of the cucumber plant can also be eaten by goats!
When we trim down our cucumber vines, we always offer these fresh leaves to our goats, who gobble them up happily.
Can Goats Have Cucumber Seeds
The seeds of the cucumber usually go unnoticed, thanks to their small, white nature. In fact, the seeds are located in a watery pulp that is our goats very favorite part of the cucumber!
It is completely safe for livestock to ingest the seeds of the cucumber fruit; do not worry about removing the core of the cucumber (where the seeds are located) before offering this fruit to your trip.
Cucumbers For Goats: Toxicity And Allergy Warning
As mentioned above, sometimes cucumbers have a slightly bitter taste.
This is due to the secondary plant compounds they contain, most notably cucurbitacins and tetracyclic triterpenoids.
A great research article on the topic explains how these natural compounds are bioactive and have helpful antitumor and anti-inflammatory actions.
However, the same researchers go on to note that livestock who have grazed heavily on cucurbit fruits have experienced severe poisoning or toxicity due to these secondary compounds.
So, regardless of their beneficial characteristics, it is important to regulate how many cucumbers your goats eat!
In addition, if your goats refuse or seem uninterested in cucumbers, do not force them to eat them: some animals may suffer from allergic reactions to cucurbitacins!
Trust the initial reaction of your goat after they try cucumbers for the first time: if they want more all is well, but if they seem uncomfortable or bloated after, cucumber isn’t the best veggie for them.
What Vegetables Are Good For Goats
As natural foragers, goats can handle a wide variety of different vegetables. In fact, some of our goats’ favorites are in the same family as the cucumber:
- Yellow Squash
- Zucchini
- Pumpkin
- Gourds
I think our goats love these treats because they are crunchy and watery, and I never mind offering them because they are also low in sugar…which is not always the case with fruit or veggie goat treats.
Read up on a naturally sugary goat treat, and the risks of indigestion it poses, in Can Goats Eat Grapes.
Can Baby Goats Enjoy Cucumbers
Yes, any goat that is either fully weaned or mostly weaned can eat cucumbers in moderation without issues.
We define mostly weaned as receiving more than two thirds of its daily nutrition from foodstuffs other than mother’s milk.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Goats Eat Cucumbers
What Farm Animals Can Eat Cucumbers?
Another farm animal that can eat cucumbers are rabbits! That’s right, learn more about offering your rabbits cucumbers in our post on Can Rabbits Eat Cucumber?
Can Goats Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, goats can enjoy red, ripe tomatoes as a snack. But we warned: any green tomato or green part of the tomato plant is toxic to livestock! Learn more about this in our post on Toxicity Warning: Can Goats Eat Tomatoes?
Final Thoughts On Can Goats Eat Cucumbers
During hot summer days we offer up to two cucumbers a day to our goats.
We have found that this watery, crunchy fruit helps them stay cool and happy alongside their foraged pasture diet and unlimited hay.
Just remember: too many treats can cause severe bloating and stomach upset for your goats. So never lose focus on providing them with high quality, fibrous plant foods!