Also known as syconia, figs are soft, pear-like fruits whose outer varies from purple to green, and the inner meat is mainly white or red. They are commonly grown in warm & dry climates; the East Mediterranean is the typical host for figs.
Over time, fig fruits have been consumed by humans and animals, either fresh or dried. They are also adored for their medicinal purpose.
Can Goats Eat Figs?
Yes. Goats can easily consume figs as they are entirely non-toxic and pose no health risks. To add, goats adore figs, from the fig leaves to the fruits a lot. However, too much of something can be poisonous so figs are better served in moderation as the opposite exposes goats to several dangers.
Harm / Importance of Figs to Goats.
Generally, figs can be beneficial to goats when offered moderately. These fruits are filled with minerals vitamins, among other healthy contents such as proteins, calories, carbohydrates etc.
Calcium is responsible for the growth and development of bones and teeth, while potassium works together with calcium to ensure a perfect condition for the bones while preventing related issues.
Additionally, the high fiber contents in figs maintain proper digestion by preventing constipation, diarrhea and other digestive issues. These fibers also enhance the condition of the goats’ guts.
All in all, we advise you to feed these fruits to your goats in a regulated manner as excessive feeding could result in issues such as bloating, diarrhea or constipation. These complications can effortlessly lead to sicknesses and weight loss for your goats.
Even worse, figs can be more dangerous to goats with birch pollen allergies. It’d be better to keep figs away from this category.
Nutritional Benefits.
When figs are prepared and served appropriately, your goats are guaranteed to enjoy the following nutrients:
Vitamin K– This vitamin is vital for controlling the calcium in your goats’ bodies while developing blood clotting.
Vitamin B6– Vitamin B6 is essential for maintaining proper brain health for your goats. It enables them to study environments perfectly and have the appropriate moods.
Fiber- Fibers found in figs are responsible for attaining proper digestion in goats as they inhibit issues such as constipation, diarrhea or bloating.
Proteins– Proteins are crucial for goats’ general growth and development, especially kids. They also help build your animals’ nerves and muscles and repair the weak cells in the body.
Potassium- Adequate potassium intake aids in preventing high blood pressure and related complications such as stroke and heart diseases. Potassium creates a balance between the sodium-potassium intake.
How Many Figs Can I Offer My Goats?
Generally, figs should be served within limits as an occasional treat but not a whole meal. As we highlighted earlier, excessive feeding can trigger digestive issues such as constipation, bloating or diarrhea.
When it comes to goat kids, we urge not to serve them figs as their digestive system hasn’t fully grown to withstand these fruits. But as for the adults, a piece or two every irregularly won’t do them any harm.
As you introduce this delicacy to your four-legged friends, kindly keenly observe how they react to it. If you notice any sign of sickness, that shows that your goat(s) might be allergic to figs. It would be better not to offer figs to the affected goats.
As for the lactating goats, kindly serve a few pieces of figs occasionally to keep some lactating issues at bay that would otherwise affect the kid(s). Most importantly, we require you to keep figs away from elderly goats. These goats are at a higher risk of diabetes and other medical issues that don’t perform well with sugary intakes.
Why are Figs Good / Bad for Goats?
Good.
Offering your goats figs doesn’t go unappreciated as these treats contain plenty of nutrients that are required for your goats’ general health. First of all, figs are filled with proteins essential for your animals’ body, especially the kids—the potassium contents in figs aid in preventing high blood pressure and heart-related issues.
On top of that, figs also contain fibers that a great deal when it comes to digestion. These fibers inhibit constipation, bloating or diarrhea cases in goats.
Lastly, we recommend figs for goats as they are filled with vitamins. For instance, vitamin B6 aids in maintaining proper brain health, while vitamin K controls the calcium in your goats’ body and develops blood clotting.
Harm.
Despite the benefits we’ve mentioned above, figs can be toxic to your goats if fed in excess. These fruits can trigger issues such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
Also, figs don’t perform well with elderly goats, kids, goats with birch pollen allergies and those with any underlying issues. Serving figs to these categories will only deteriorate their health.
How Do I Feed Figs to my Goats?
As you introduce these treats to your babies, kindly remember that they should be an irregular snack and not a whole meal. Select the small and softer ones for the plain figs as they are easier to chew. Wash them thoroughly with clean water and slicing isn’t mandatory; it depends on your preferences.
Also, roasting can be an appealing method of serving figs to goats as long as you don’t over roast them. Over roasted figs are slightly harsh and bitter to swallow. After roasting, kindly allow them to cool before serving. Trust me, either pan or grill roasted, your goats will fancy this treat.
Dried figs make an excellent snack for goats, but this delicacy shouldn’t be overfed. This category should be fed more rarely than the other two because of their high calories and sugar contents, increasing as the fig dries. A tip- To attain a balanced diet, you can accompany your goats’ figs with other foodstuffs such as fruits and vegetables.
Can kids eat figs?
No. baby goats should primarily rely on their mother’s milk for at least one and a half months. But as they grow older, we recommend introducing them to figs. Kindly start with smaller pieces as you monitor how your babies react to the delicacy. Some goats might be allergic to figs, making it dangerous to them.
Can goats consume fig leaves?
Yes. Goats can comfortably consume fig leaves. Like the fruit, these leaves are filled with nutrients; goats adore them a lot. However, we urge you not to let your goats consume too many figs leaves as they can turn toxic to their health.
What are the alternatives for figs?
While figs can be slightly expensive and rare to find, there are other fruits that you can serve your goats to substitute them—starting with pears, prunes, fresh apricots, strawberries or peaches. These fruits are as nutritious as figs.
In short, goats can eat figs. These fruits make a delicious and unique treat and are filled with nutrients for your goats. Even so, figs are better served as a rare treat because of the risks associated with their excessive consumption.
