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If you’ve got black walnut trees on your property and goats in the pasture, you have probably wondered whether those fallen leaves are a problem. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.
Here’s what you need to know about goats and black walnut.
Can goats eat black walnut leaves?
Goats can browse on small amounts of black walnut leaves without dropping dead. They’re more tolerant of the tree’s toxins than some other livestock, especially horses.
A goat that nibbles a few black walnut leaves while passing through a wooded area is probably going to be fine.
Black walnut isn’t a feed you should be offering on purpose. The tree produces a compound called juglone that can cause problems in larger amounts.
For safe treats, stick to options like apples or peanuts instead. Think of black walnut leaves as something your goats can tolerate in small doses during natural browsing, not something you’d want to pile in their feeder.
What’s juglone and why does it matter?
Juglone is a chemical compound found in all parts of the black walnut tree. The roots, bark, leaves, and especially the green hulls around the nuts all contain it.
It’s the same compound that kills tomato plants and other sensitive vegetation growing near black walnut trees.
In livestock, juglone can cause digestive upset, lethargy, and in severe cases, organ damage. The risk is similar to how acorns contain tannins that can cause oak toxicity in large amounts.
The concentration varies by season and part of the tree. Fresh green leaves and rotting hulls tend to have the highest levels.
Dried leaves that have been on the ground for a while contain less juglone, but they’re still not ideal feed.
How goats compare to other livestock
Horses are the animals most famously sensitive to black walnut. Black walnut shavings used as bedding can cause laminitis (founder) in horses within hours.
It’s a serious and well-documented problem in the equine world.
Goats are much more resistant than horses. Their rumen does a better job of processing juglone in small quantities, just as it handles the tannins in blackberry canes without trouble.
Cattle fall somewhere in between. This doesn’t mean goats are immune, but a goat browsing under a black walnut tree occasionally is at far less risk than a horse standing in black walnut shavings.
What are the risks of feeding black walnut leaves?
Your main concern here is the tannin and juglone content. In large quantities, tannins bind to proteins in the digestive tract and interfere with nutrient absorption.
This can lead to weight loss and poor condition over time.
Pregnant does should be kept away from black walnut as a precaution. There are anecdotal reports of juglone contributing to pregnancy complications in livestock, and it’s not worth the risk when plenty of other browse is available.
Safe alternatives like pine trees and honeysuckle give pregnant does something to browse without the danger. Baby goats, with their smaller body size and developing digestive systems, are also more vulnerable than adults.
What parts of the black walnut tree to avoid
The green hulls that surround the nuts in late summer and fall are the biggest concern. They contain the highest concentration of juglone and can stain everything they touch a dark brown.
If these hulls are rotting on the ground where your goats graze, rake them up or fence that area off.
Black walnut shavings should never be used as bedding for any livestock. The sawdust and shavings release juglone in concentrated amounts that can cause problems even for goats.
Stick to pine shavings or straw for bedding, and keep black walnut wood out of the barn entirely.
Final Thoughts
A few black walnut leaves won’t kill your goat, and you don’t need to panic if they browse under the tree from time to time. Goats handle juglone better than most livestock.
But don’t go out of your way to feed black walnut leaves, and do keep your goats away from large quantities of fallen hulls. Pregnant does and kids should have the least exposure.
When in doubt, fence off the area around black walnut trees and give your goats access to safer browse instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Goats can browse on small amounts of black walnut leaves without serious problems. They're more resistant to juglone than horses, but large amounts over time can still cause digestive upset. Moderation is the key.
Pregnant goats should be kept away from black walnut trees. Juglone exposure may pose extra risks during pregnancy, and it's not worth the gamble when plenty of safer browse is available.
Baby goats are smaller and more sensitive to toxins, so they shouldn't have access to black walnut leaves. Their developing systems are less equipped to handle juglone.
Lactating goats should avoid black walnut leaves as a precaution. Tannins can interfere with nutrient absorption and potentially affect milk production.
