Goats love to get special treats. In the summer it can help keep your goats hydrated to give them treats that have a high water content. One such food is a Cantaloupe. So, can goats eat cantaloupe?
An old fallacy if it go to have iron stomachs and can eat anything and everything. Quite frankly this is not true. You must be careful the only feed your goats treats that are safe for them to eat.
Keep reading to find out all the ins and outs of feeding cantaloupe to your goats.
Can Goats Eat Cantaloupe
Yes, goats can eat cantaloupe. In fact they can eat cantaloupe rinds seeds and plants without any issues.
Cantaloupe is a healthy and hydrating tree to give your goats. Similar to when goats eat watermelon or when goats eat pineapple, cantaloupe should only be fed in moderation.
Cantaloupe is high in sugar like most other fruits and so you want to make sure you don't overfeed it to your herd.
This fruit is particularly high and several different nutrients that are very beneficial for your goats. In cantaloupe you will find nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamin c, folate, fiber, and potassium. (Source)
These nutrients play a variety of important roles such as eye health, immune system support and health, electrolyte balance, and even prevention of certain cancers.
Can Goats Eat Cantaloupe Rinds?
Yes, good can eat cantaloupe rinds. Plain rinds are not their favorite things. As they are kind of tough and bland.
However, it is perfectly safe for them to eat the rind. And you can certainly leave rind on with some of the flesh and they will Chow down.
Can Goats Eat Cantaloupe Seeds?
Yes, those can also eat cantaloupe seeds. If you are feeding cantaloupe to your goats there is no need to remove the seeds.
Can Goats Eat Cantaloupe Plants/Vines/Leaves?
Yes, goats can eat cantaloupe plants Vines and leaves. These are not the most tasty parts of the plant of course. And they do not have the majority of the nutrition.
However, if you are growing your own cantaloupe in your garden and your goats get into the garden and eat the plants that is totally safe.
Additionally, it's good to use your goats to clean your garden out. And so if you have cantaloupe plants left in your garden at the end of the season it's totally fine to let your goats go in and graze.
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How to Feed Your Goats Cantaloupe
Feeding your goats cantaloupe is done just like you would do most other goat treats. The first thing you want to do is make sure that your cantaloupe is right and free of mold or other potential issues.
Once you've identified that you have a fresh and ripe cantaloupe, you can prepare it to feed it to your goats. You can include the rind and seeds when feeding to your goats so there's no need to scrape the seeds out or separate the flesh of the fruit from the rind.
You will want to make sure that you cut the cantaloupe carefully into bite-size trunks so that the goats do not try to bite off more than they can chew. Go ahead and make sure to also wash the rind with some water to be sure to wipe off any pesticides.
Once you have washed and chopped your cantaloupe into bite-sized chunks you can take it out to your goats to feed to them. You can either put the cantaloupe into a feed bucket or you can feed them this treat by hand.
when feeding the cantaloupe to your goats and sure that they are not having trouble chewing the size chunks you have made. If they seem too big you want to cut them into smaller pieces.
As with and any other treat that you feed to your goats, you want to make sure that you feed this in moderation. It's generally accepted that treats should make up no more than 10 to 20% of your goats overall diet.
FAQ
What fruits are healthy for goats?
There are whole variety of fruits that are healthy for goats to eat. Whenever feeding any fruits keep in mind that most do have a high sugar content so they should be a low percentage of your goats overall diet.
However, when fed in moderation, fruits can make a great healthy treat to include in your goat's diet. Goats can eat many fruits such as apples, bananas, pineapple, and a variety of melons.
What fruits can goats not eat?
Most fruits are actually safer goats to eat. Some though you need to be more cautious with than others.
For example, citrus can affect their rumen more than some other fruits so should be fed sparingly. Additionally, the leaves and plants of some fruit such as cherries are poisonous to goats. Although the cherry fruit itself is not.
Do goats eat melons?
Yes goats can and do eat melons such as watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. These melons are a great hydrating and vitamin rich snack to provide your herd.
If you need more help keeping your goats healthy and well taken care of, check out the G.O.A.T. Herd Management System - worksheets, calculators, supply management and more to keep your goats in tip top shape while cutting down on time.
