In the realm of animal husbandry, where dietary considerations are pivotal, the question of whether goats can safely consume walnut leaves has emerged as a crucial concern.
Goats, known for their diverse palate and foraging nature, may encounter walnut leaves and nibble away. And we can truly only touch on the health risks of walnut for goats based on our own hobby farming and goat raising experiences, but we do argue that walnut leaves are not the most compatible or healthy food for goats; they may be a health risk to your goats.
In this article, we’ll delve into our experience with the relationship between goats and walnut trees, explore the safety of walnut leaves, the known science behind walnut toxicity, the potential risks of walnut poisoning, and the broader context of nut tree leaves in a goat’s diet.
Are Black Walnut Trees Safe For Goats
Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) are deciduous trees commonly found in North America and are known to produce a chemical compound called juglone.
This compound is found in various parts of the tree, including leaves, bark, nuts, and roots. While juglone has allelopathic properties (inhibiting the growth of certain plants around the tree) it also poses a potential risk to livestock, including goats.
Bottom line: No, walnut trees are not the safest tree for goats to ingest.
The Facts On Walnut Toxicity
Walnut toxicity primarily stems from the presence of juglone.
Juglone is a naphthoquinone derivative that is found in all green portions of the walnut tree. Due to its allelopathic properties, it has been used as a natural herbicide and antiparasitic, and has historically been used as a natural dye.
This toxic compound is most concentrated in the buds, nuts and roots of walnut trees, particularly black walnut trees; a mature tree can claim up to 80 feet around its base with juglone, preventing particularly sensitive plants from growing!
Juglone is well-known for causing health issues in goats and other animals when ingested in large quantities, leading to a condition known as “walnut poisoning.”
The severity of symptoms can vary based on the amount of juglone consumed, the animal’s size, and overall health.
Walnut Poisoning In Animals: Leaves, Hulls, Roots
Walnut poisoning is most common in larger livestock, such at horses and cattle, but ingesting too many walnut leaves, hulls, or roots can result in similar symptoms in your goats, such as:
- Severe Indigestion
- Bloating
- Lethargy
- Colic
- Loss of Appetite
- Diarrhea
Juglone severely disrupts the digestive process of your goats and at its worst, your goat can die from ingesting too much juglone.
The Woodland Vet Hospital also cautions against allowing your goats to eat moldy walnuts, as they can cause tremorgenic mycotoxins, which in turn causes seizures or other severe neurological symptoms.
Goats Eating Walnuts: Should I Worry?
When we have chatted with our local vet about walnuts in our goats’ paddock, they have been very helpful by pointing out that goats, and other animals, naturally tend to themselves through instincts.
As such, we have allowed our goats to forage around walnut trees and we have yet to witness them eating large quantities of the leaves or hulls (sometimes when we do see them ingesting parts of the tree we wonder if they are naturally ridding themselves of a parasite?)
Overall, I think the bitter, pungent taste of the tree must deter them – there are many other tasty greens to choose from!
What To Do If Walnuts Are In Your Goat Pasture
We have two walnut trees growing in the rotating, outdoor paddock we offer our goats.
Although these black walnuts contain toxic juglone, we have not done anything about them, rather, we allow our goats to follow their instincts and trust that if we meet their nutritional needs with healthy foods they will not be tempted to browse heavily on the walnuts.
We have noticed that they seem to enjoy walnut saplings, leaves and all, but mostly ignore the hulls of the nut. Again, we encourage you to chat with your local vet before pasturing your goats if you have many walnut trees on your land!
Can Goats Eat Nut Tree Leaves
When it comes to nut tree leaves in general, caution is advised. While some nut tree leaves may be consumed by goats without apparent harm, others can be toxic.
It is important to note that if you meet the dietary requirements of your goats through a high fiber and foraged diet supplemented with veggies, fruits, and grains, they will be very unlikely to forage and browse on potentially harmful plant materials!
Although not all are nut trees, there are a few well known toxic trees to look out for:
- Red Maple
- Black Oaks
- Box Elder
- Chokecherry
- Peach
Learn more about maples for goats and the toxic prussic acid in peach trees here.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Goats Have Walnut Leaves
What Tree Leaves Are Best For Goats?
Goats enjoy the leaves from many different trees, some of the safest and most tasty being: Willows, Mulberrys, Birches, Ashes and White Oaks.
Learn more about the allelopathic nature of walnut trees in this informative video before you plant your homestead garden!
Final Thoughts On Can Goats Eat Walnut Leaves
In conclusion, black walnut trees and their leaves should be considered potentially hazardous for goats due to the presence of juglone.
To ensure the health and well-being of goats, it’s best to avoid voluntarily feeding them walnut leaves and to keep them away from areas where walnut trees grow densely.
Remember, providing goats with a diet rich in safe forage and appropriate nutrition is essential for their optimal health and will greatly diminish their desire to browse on potentially harmful plant matter!