General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Can someone please help me identify a weed? [View all]CommonHumanity
(246 posts)For other goat owners or anyone else wondering about goats and pokeweed:
If you own goats you are familiar with the fact that most plants considered toxic to livestock have not been tested on goats. In fact, plants that are toxic to cattle, pigs, etc. may not necessarily be toxic to goats.
I am not suggesting that anyone randomly feed their goats plants that appear on toxic plant lists. Just saying my goats eat pokeweed and love it. I can always tell when they have eaten a good bit of it because the berries stain the fur around their lips. It seems to like to grow with kudzu among other things and my goats have a great time with it. As with goats and any plant, much depends on how much of a particular plant they eat in relation to whatever else they are eating. Just sayin' pokeweed is just fine for my goats in NC.
I'm sure someone will provide further detail on this, but pokeweed was also eaten by people in many southern states. Maybe still is. Has to be boiled/prepared till the cows come home, but again, just sayin' pokeweed is not a clear cut case o toxic to all animals in all modes of preparation. That said, don't go out, pull some up and chow down on it.