Why Goats Reject Certain Hays
Goats Are Selective by Nature
Goats are natural browsers and tend to select leaves, tender shoots, and more digestible plant portions. That behavior continues at the hay feeder, where they may pull out leaves, choose fine stems, and reject mature stalks.
Some sorting is normal. It becomes a management concern when refusal reduces intake, creates major waste, or changes body condition.
Maturity and Stem Texture Matter
As forage matures, stems generally become larger and more fibrous. Goats may eat the remaining leaves and leave the mature stems. Two hays of the same species can therefore be accepted very differently.
Leafiness Usually Improves Acceptance
Leafy hay is often softer and easier to chew. Quality orchardgrass can be particularly useful for selective goats because it may combine abundant leaves with flexible stems. Timothy, bromegrass,
bermudagrass, prairie grass, alfalfa, and blends can also be highly palatable when harvested appropriately.
Smell Can Determine Acceptance
A bale that smells musty, sour, stale, or unusually dusty may be rejected even when visible mold is not obvious. Hay should smell clean and characteristic of dried forage. Questionable hay should be investigated, not disguised with grain or molasses.
Dust and Weather Damage Can Reduce Intake
Excessive dust may come from leaf shatter, soil contamination, mold, or storage deterioration. Rain damage and poor storage can also change texture and aroma enough to reduce palatability.
Goats Notice Differences Between Lots
A group may love one load of orchardgrass and dislike the next because field, cutting, maturity, harvest weather, curing, and storage differ. The label identifies the species, not an identical feeding experience.
Familiarity Affects Acceptance
An unfamiliar hay may initially be sorted more aggressively. Gradual mixing with the familiar forage allows both rumen microorganisms and feeding behavior to adapt.
Dental Problems Can Look Like Pickiness
Sudden stem rejection, slow eating, dropping partially chewed forage, excessive salivation, or weight loss may indicate dental discomfort rather than preference. Seniors are particularly vulnerable.
Competition Can Look Like Refusal
A timid goat may not dislike the hay at all. It may be repeatedly displaced and left with only coarse leftovers. Multiple feeding stations or temporary separation can reveal the difference.
Feeder Design and Contamination Matter
Goats may reject hay once it is stepped on, urinated on, mixed with manure, or pushed into mud. A feeder that keeps forage clean while limiting excessive pull-out can improve both intake and efficiency.
Choosing Hay at the Barn
Handle several flakes. Examine leafiness, maturity, stem flexibility, seed heads, aroma, dust, mold, and consistency. For selective goats, premium orchardgrass often offers a useful combination of softness and leafiness, while orchardgrass/alfalfa or alfalfa may suit animals needing more nutrition.
The real test is whether the intended animals can comfortably and consistently consume enough of the forage to meet their needs.
FAQ
Why do my goats pull hay out and leave it on the ground?
Natural sorting, large feeder openings, coarse hay, and overfilling can all contribute.
Why will my goats eat orchardgrass but not coarse timothy?
The orchardgrass may be softer, leafier, or less mature.
Why are my goats suddenly refusing hay they normally eat?
Inspect the hay for mold, moisture, dust, storage damage, or lot differences, and consider health or dental changes.
Is it normal for goats to leave stems?
Some stem rejection is normal. Large or increasing amounts deserve investigation.
Do goats prefer alfalfa?
Many do, but preference does not mean every goat needs alfalfa nutritionally.
Can goats tell if hay is moldy?
They may reject some questionable forage, but willingness to eat does not prove safety.
Why does my older goat suddenly reject stems?
Dental wear or oral discomfort may make coarse stems difficult to chew.
When is hay refusal a veterinary concern?
When it is sudden or accompanied by reduced rumination, weakness, diarrhea, bloat, pain, abnormal urination, or significant weight loss.