Farmers should never have to choose between raising goats or cows, especially if they like both animals. In this article we look at whether there is a possibility that you can raise both cows and goats on one piece of land without facing any problems.
Contents
Can Cows And Goats Live Together
Yes, cows and goats can live together and share the same grazing pastures. This is mainly because these animals belong to the same family of ruminants. Therefore, they eat almost similar foods. When placed on the same grazing pastures, it is important to note that cows will graze whilst goats prefer to browse. This means that there won’t be necessarily any competition for food. Before taking in goats and cows to live together just make sure that your land is big enough to accommodate both species of animals.
Reasons Why Cows And Goats Can Live Together
One of the main reasons why cows and goats can live together is because they share a similar diet. Both animals can eat grass, fruits, plant leaves and pellets. Goats prefer browsing, which means they like eating leaves from taller plants like trees or shrubs whereas cows graze, meaning that they eat grass and other lower plants. When these animals are put in the same paddock, there will be a balance since both animals tend to eat differently which means there will be limited competition for pastures.
They Have Similar Uses
Another common reason why cows and goats can live together is because they have similar uses. Both animals can be kept for either milk production, meat production, leather, weed control or all of the reasons stated. Therefore, it will be easier for a farmer to keep these animals in one area.
Require Similar Care
Cows and goats require similar care, this is because they belong to the same family and them both share similar diseases. So if you are going to be feeding them, it’s okay to give them the same type of feed. When checking for disease, you also need to make sure you check both animals and isolate the ones that are sick in order to prevent continuous spread of the disease.
Advantages Of Keeping Cows And Goats Together
Improved Pastures
One of the advantages of keeping cows and goats together is that they improve the productivity of pastures. This is mainly because, cows will graze the land whilst goats will browse. This then means that the pastures will be balanced. Furthermore, these animals will help to remove weeds on your pastures, since weeds are part of their diet.
Reduces Parasites
Keeping cows and goats in the same area helps to reduce parasites in these animals. Studies show that most gastrointestinal parasites from goats may not survive in the stomachs of cattle and vice versa. This means that when both animals live on the same piece of land, they may work together in order to decrease internal parasite worm loads.
Things To Consider Before Keeping Cows And Goats Together
While cows and goats can live together without any problems, there are a few things you need to consider before bringing these 2 animals to live together on your farm. Below we look at some of these things.
Stocking Density
Before bringing in cows and goats to live together it’s important that you look at the stocking density on your farm. Stocking density refers to the number of livestock on a grazing area or unit at a time. This means you need to calculate how many goats and cows you can keep on an acre before bringing them. If you do not calculate the stocking density there is a good chance that you animals will end up competing for the available pastures, which can then lead to overgrazing and your animals will starve.
Type Of Vegetation Available
Before taking in cows and goats to live together, you need to consider the type of vegetation you have on your land. Research whether the type of grass you have is highly palatable for cows and goats. You wouldn’t want a situation were by you bring in livestock to an unpalatable field.
Possible Disadvantages Of Cows And Goats Living Together
One of the disadvantages of cows and goats living together is that both animals share the same disease. This means that if cows develop a certain disease, they can pass it over to the goats. Cows and goats share similar diseases like coccidiosis, anthrax, mastitis and blue tongue disease. Therefore, if you notice that one animals has developed this disease, you should put it in isolation and treat it.
Limited Space
Another disadvantage of keeping cows and goats in one place is that the space becomes very limited. One cow requires 20 to 30 square feet of space whilst a goat requires at least 10 square feet. Therefore, if you are keeping large numbers of cows and goats, there will be limited space in your barn. Furthermore, it’s important to take into consideration the fact that goats are more active than cows, so when they are put in a barn, they still need space to roam around. So when making a barn for both animals, make sure it’s big enough to accommodate all their needs.
What Animals Can Live With Goats?
If you are planning on bringing in other livestock to live with your goats, we would highly recommend that you bring in cows or sheep. These animals belong to the same family and they have almost a similar diet.
Can Goats Eat Cauliflower?
Yes, goats can eat cauliflower mainly because it can be digested by the rumen. When offering cauliflower to your goats it is essential that you cut it into small pieces so that your animals may not choke on it. Cauliflower should be offered as a supplementary feed and not as a substitute for livestock feed. This is mainly because it does not meet the energy requirements of these animals.
Conclusion
Cows and Goats can live together however, you need to consider your stocking density before bringing both of them onto your farm.
