can goats browse tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)?

Discussion in 'Breeding, Raising, Feeding and Caring for Animals' started by abdullah, Sep 28, 2010.

  1. abdullah

    abdullah Junior Member

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    can goats browse tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)?

    i've been trying to search for info about it but not much is online, anyone have any experience here?

    thanks in advance
     
  2. andrew curr

    andrew curr Moderator

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    Yes

    the more good qualuty food they have the more they will eat (if you think of the ruminant like a composter)
    ie highly digestablestuff like clover
     
  3. abdullah

    abdullah Junior Member

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    thanks for your reply andrew, what about 'pattersons curse'? this one i haven't looked up yet but i thought i'll throw in now anyway :)

    edited in:

    ok didn't take long to get on that one:

     
  4. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

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    If your goats are dark coloured grazing pattersons curse will not harm them according to Pat Coleby's book but we havenet tried it

    We do have lots of native bush which includes tea tree and our goats love to browse it all. I think the secret is to provide a variety of feed and not have too much of any one thing.

    BTW clover is not healthy feed for goats

    frosty
     
  5. abdullah

    abdullah Junior Member

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    thanks frosty, on my families property we have a heap of native bush with a lot of tea tree, that's why i'm asking.

    what type of goats do you have?
     
  6. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

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    Hi Abdullah

    we have pure bred British Alpines - they are the black ones with swiss markings. They are hardier than the other swiss breeds and give a good quantity of milk with high butterfat. They also milk through several years after kidding

    I would thoroughly recommend Pat Coleby's book "Natural goat & Alpaca care ". We keep our goats organically and find her methods excellent.

    frosty
     
  7. andrew curr

    andrew curr Moderator

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    as with many things alittle is ok

     
  8. frosty

    frosty Junior Member

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    Hi Andy

    dark coloured goats have a much higher need of copper than light coloured ones ....... apparently goats generally need much more copper than sheep

    frosty
     

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