Goats are curious animals and, just like me, they like sugary and sweet foods even if they aren’t the best for their systems.
For this reason, goats will and do eat figs. Common fig fruits are a nontoxic treat that your goats can eat sparingly. Be aware that their high sugar content can harm your goats if eaten too often or in large quantities.
Read on to learn all there is to know about the nutritional facts, benefits, risks, and best way to prepare figs for goats.
Are Figs Safe For Animals
Whether or not figs are safe for animals greatly depends on what animal, what part or what species of the fig plant you have in mind.
When it comes to some common hobby farm livestock, such as goats and horses, fig fruits from the common fig tree (Ficus carica) are a-okay in small amounts.
But other homestead or pet animals, such as cats, can react badly to all parts of this fig plant and should not be fed these sweet fruits.
In addition, another type of fig plant called the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), which is most often kept indoors as a houseplant or used in landscaping, contains a proteolytic enzyme and psoralen, two poisonous compounds that put all animals at risk of death if ingested.
We highly recommend identifying and checking any fig plant or fig fruits you have before offering them to your animals, as one wrong move could result in death for your goats!
Are Figs Safe For Goats: Benefits
Figs from the common fig plant are soft, dark purple to black pear shaped fruits.
They are filled with small, edible seeds and are well-known for their sweet and fibrous characteristics.
In fact, a 100g serving of fresh, raw figs contains:
- 79% water
- 16.3g of sugar
- 2.9 g of fiber
As well as nine minerals (none of which are in significant amounts to make a strong difference in your goats health) and a handful of vitamins.
Raw figs are one of the most sugary fruits and must be offered to your goats in moderation because of it.
Are Figs Safe For Goats: Risks
The high sugar content in raw figs makes them a great sweet treat for your goats, especially any pregnant or lactating nannies you may have.
However, because they are so high in sugar, and relatively low in fiber and other macronutrients needed by goats, offering your trip too many figs can result in serious stomach bloating, bacterial imbalance in the rumen, and the development of bad eating habits.
Diarrhea is another common symptom of having eaten too many figs in goats.
Remember, goats require high amounts of coarse, high fiber foods to keep their metabolism running and their four stomachs happy.
This looks like 12-35% in foraged nutrients and 86-92% in hays and concentrates.
A healthy goat will browse for high-quality plant matter all day long, should have unlimited access to hay, and limited amounts of high sugar foods.
For more information on how to best feed your goats, check out our post on How Much Does A Goat Eat Per Day?
How To Best Feed Figs To Goats
We haven’t offered our goats many figs, we tend to choose less sugary fruits for them such as zucchini.
But on the few occasions that we have, we follow these steps:
- Examine the figs well, checking for pest bore holes or overripe, soft or black parts.
- Soak all figs in cold water for 5 minutes. This will help remove residual dust, dirt, and pesticides.
- Offer your goats 2-3 figs. You don’t have to cut them in half but you can, to make them easier to eat.
Can Goats Eat Dried Figs
Dried figs contain no water content and can be a bit harder for your goats to digest.
But technically, yes, your goats can eat dry figs.
Can Goats Eat Fresh Figs
We always prefer offering our goats fresh, raw fruits.
This is the most nutritious and watery state of any fruit and we find that our goats enjoy fresh fruits over dried.
Are Fig Plants Poisonous to Goats
All fig plants contain a milky latex that may be harmful to humans and animals if consumed in large amounts.
When you pick the fig fruit or break of a branch you will immediately see this slightly sticky, white latex.
Some fig plant species, as stated in the beginning of this post, should be completely avoided, leaves, fruits, branches and all, as these fig variations are more toxic.
However, the common fig plant produces leaves that can be eaten by your goats.
Again, we suggest taking the time to identify and research any fig plants you have growing on your land before allowing your goats to browse on the fruits, leaves, or twigs!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Goats Have Figs
Can Goats Eat Fig Newtons?
Fig newtons are highly processed foods that are not ideal snacks to feed your goats.
We do not suggest offering your goats fig newtons as they could lead to slight stomach upsets and bad eating habits.
Can Goats Eat Dates?
Dates are fruits that you can offer your goats, although they are very, very sugary and should be offered as once-in-a-blue-moon treats for your trip.
We do not feed our goats dates, as we consider them too sugary for our nannies and billies.
What Fruits Are Poisonous To Goats?
In addition to some fruits of certain fig trees, pineapple is a potentially dangerous fruit to offer your goats, onions are toxic to goats, and the pit of peaches can poison your goats if ingested!
Final Thoughts On Can Goats Eat Figs
If you have a common fig tree on your land, you can offer your goats some of the yummy fruits and a few handfuls of leaves without issues.
However, always identify and research the fig trees you have, as some more ornamental and landscaping species pose serious threats to all hobby farm animals if ingested!