Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Goats and trees


Stereo
 Share

Recommended Posts

Log in or register to remove this advert

  • Replies 38
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

big picture replaced by text for ease of scrolling

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

So, horses evolved into what they are now about a million years ago, but had started to evolve to feed on grasses and away from the forest about 50mya.

Sheep, goats, cattle etc didn't evolve from forest creatures into grazers, their evolution is much shorter than that of plants.

The aurochs from which cattle evolved only started about 2mya

The common ancestors of sheep and goats about 15mya

The ancestors of deer about 35mya (

 

In general, plants adapt much slower than animals (a domestic pig of any breed will measurably start to change (skull lengthening, skeletal changes) back into a wild boar in as little as three generations!). All gramnivores (animals that feed on grass as their main diet) we know now are relatively freshly evolved.

And as far as I know, nearly all gramnivores will also eat leaves when available, but cannot normally sustain themselves with leaves alone.

Sheep for example will eat leaves and bark, but need to eat mainly grasses to thrive. (something to do with the way grasses metabolise differently than tree-leaves and how they get digested differently to extract their nutrients).

 

Grasses evolved into what they are to cope with getting eaten.

Grasses will actually get stronger if grazed periodically, as long as the recovery time is sufficient, grasses will improve every grazing cycle. They evolved to be able to cope with being grazed, and to thrive, which can only have happened if the grasses got grazed?

 

I'm by no means an expert on this subject btw, but grass and grazers is an area of keen interest.:001_smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My goats used to love ivy and bramble leaves above all else. They would do the same, stand on two legs and eat everything they could reach.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

My brother knocks his trees over and let's the goats in so they de bark them and therefore dry faster gor burning.

 

sent from my phone but never in work time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Goats are browsers. Sheep are grazers. Goats have far lower natural worm resistance than sheep which is either the effect of or the reason for their grazing habits. Given a choice, a goat will always pick a hedge over a sward. Many sheep will get up and pick leaves, especially ones with medicinal value such as Ash. But in general they prefer a short, grass sward rather than tufty stuff or bramble etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They won't eat horseradish plants :laugh1: I went with a mate to pick a car up and the woman there said she didn't know what they were but they were the only thing the goats didn't touch. I told here what they were and to dig up the roots late in the year to use them. She felt better about them after as she had thought they might be poisonous. I think your trees would be at risk if you kept the goats in there.

 

None of those goats are tied in and there is no PPE in sight ./ Disgusting !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.