Can Goats Eat Grapes? Is It Safe?

Goats love all kinds of sweet treats. They will happily experiment with new tastes and develop specific favorite tastes.

feeding grapes to a goat

But not all treats are good for them. Food that has a high sugar level can cause digestive problems and problems with obesity.

So, can goats eat grapes?

Yes, grapes can be fed to goats as a treat but only once or twice per week (because of their high sugar content). Goats can be fed the entire plant without any toxic risk.

This article will focus on grapes, and what you need to know about feeding grapes to your goats.

A Healthy Diet

Goats are natural foragers; they need to have a good balanced diet consisting of grass, alfalfa, plants, leaves, and pellets that are high in fiber.

The vines, leaves, roots, and fruit of grapes are healthy and can be included in their foraging areas.

But the fruit is high in sugar and should therefore be fed in moderation. Too much sugar can lead to digestive issues and can cause obesity in your goats.

Why Goats Love Grapes

Just like people develop a liking for a specific treat, be it chocolate or gummy bears or chips, goats also have their own favorite treats.

Often goats will develop a liking for a specific type of grape; red, white, green, pink, yellow, and black grapes all taste different.

What they have in common is that they are sweet and juicy. That is why they are a fan favorite.

Nutritional Value of Grapes for Goats

There are several micro and macro minerals present in grapes that are essential for good health:

Macro MineralsMicro Minerals
calciummanganese
sodiumiron
chloridecobalt
magnesiumzinc
phosphorousiodine
potassiumcopper
sulfurmolybdenum
selenium

Because they are high in vitamin K and C, grapes help promote connective tissue health and are good antioxidants for goats. Antioxidants can prevent cancer in goats.

Grapes improve a goat’s memory, mood, and attention span because they are high in vitamin B, B6, thiamine, and riboflavin.

Potassium, manganese, resveratrol, and vitamins B, K, and C improve bone density preventing osteoporosis.

The antioxidants in the seeds and skins of grapes help prevent chronic diseases, especially heart disease.

Grapes are low in fats and carbs reducing the risk of weight gain. Grapes can prevent diabetes and lower blood sugar levels.

Fiber is essential to stomach and gut health. All parts of the grape plant contain fiber.

Compounds like zeaxanthin and lutein protect goat’s eyes from blue light and reduce retinal damage.

Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory compound that prevents chronic diseases. Resveratrol also has antimicrobial properties that prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria.

Goats eating grapes

How to Feed Grapes to Your Goats

While the vines, roots, and leaves are easy for goats to eat, it is best to either cut up or squish grapes to prevent a choking hazard when introducing them to your goats.

Once the goats have some experience with grapes, it is safe to feed them whole.

Baby goats lose their minds for tasty grape leaves

Grape Vines and Leaves

The vines and leaves are good for goats because of their vitamins, fiber, minerals, and calories.

The leaves are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, these are powerful antioxidants that protect cells and thereby decrease the risk of severe diseases.

Can Goats Eat Rotten Grapes?

As I have said, goats love sweet food as much as people do and all have their favorites. Some also, like people, develop a liking for fermenting fruits like rotten grapes.

After all, alcohol is fermented fruit. As harmful as it is for adults, the kids developing digestive systems are nowhere near strong enough to cope with something so bad as rotten fruit.

The pain and digestive issues will cause them not the eat or drink after consuming rotten grapes. It can lead to malnutrition in kids.

Obviously, just like with people, alcohol is not good for goats. The entertainment value is a 10/10 for sure; however, the dangers posed make rotten fruit a 10/10 NOT to feed to goats.

The fermenting fruit will cause the following:

  • A lack of balance which can lead them to fall over, and risk being injured in the fall
  • Their special perception can also be affected by the alcohol
  • The alcohol can lead to painful goat bloat
  • Fermented grapes – and all fermented fruit – can lead to digestive issues causing severe cramping and diarrhea

Potential Risk of Feeding Your Goats Grapes

While most goats can easily chew bunches of grapes, you should always supervise them when trying anything new.

When you start out feeding your goats grapes, cut them in halves or squeeze them open. This reduces the risk of choking.

If goats eat too many grapes, they may develop issues with their digestive systems. Eating too many grapes could result in painful bloating. They will also develop excess flatulence.

Only feed grapes, vines, and leaves to goats if you are 100% sure that the plant has not been treated with any chemicals or pesticides.

Some goats can have an allergic reaction to eating grapes. They will develop an itchy mouth and throat.

Storebought grapes are safe for your goats, however, always wash the grapes thoroughly before giving them to your goats to get any pesticides the grower may have used off.

Feeding Baby Goats (Kids) Grapes

Baby goats (kids) should never be fed any treat until they are at least 2 to 3 months old when they are completely weaned because their digestive systems are not fully developed.

They are also at risk of choking. It is important to cut the grapes up for the kids as a safety measure.

While they are still drinking milk, they will copy their mothers chewing on vegetation. If they have access to grape vines, they will graze but they will only eat very small amounts.

This is… My Final Answer

Some treats are healthier and safer for goats to eat than other treats. Grapes, their vines, and leaves are a safer treats than almost all other goat fruit treats.

The nutrient content of grapes exceeds that of other treats which could make goats obese and aid in the prevention of serious health concerns.

The key things to remember are moderation and awareness of toxins such as pesticides. If you feed grapes, they should always be served in moderation and the grape vines, fruit, and leaves should be clear of pesticides and any other chemicals.

Send some pictures of your goats enjoying their treats in the comments below.

FAQs

Can goats eat raisins?

Yes, they can, they will love to share your handful of raisins.

Can goats drink grape juice?

Grape juice is safe if it has been diluted down with water.

Can goats eat grapes daily?

No, you don’t want to feed them daily. They may eat grapes once or twice a week as long as they are balanced with good grass, alfalfa, and hay. They should be limited to a small bunch of grapes per serving.

Which grapes can goats eat?

Goats can eat all grapes no matter the color or type of the grape.

Can goats eat grape seeds?

Goats can eat grape seeds; however, they do not digest grape seeds. The seeds are passed whole in the goat’s feces.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *