Reader Letters March/April 2025
Do you have a question or a comment about your goats, their feed, housing, or about an article you’ve read here? Feel free to email to goatjournal@iamcountryside.com
Eating Straw is a Serious Problem
I remember reading a letter to Goat Journal not too long ago in which the writer asked if it was all right for goats to eat straw. I believe the response was that straw doesn’t have much nutritional value, so the amount a goat eats should be limited. I am writing to say that the consequences of a goat eating straw can be much more serious than poor nutrition.
Earlier this year, one of my goats became obsessed with eating straw. She would rather eat straw than high-quality second-cutting hay. Then one day, she didn’t want to eat anything — no straw, no hay, no treats, no nothing. She refused to eat anything for five days, but then her condition cleared up, and she was fine again. I figured it must have had something to do with eating straw, so I checked with my vet, and she said that straw can form a mat in the rumen that blocks food from continuing through the digestive system.
I bought different straw for bedding that the goat didn’t find appetizing, but I also used a little of the original straw mixed in just to use it up. I thought it would be safe, but it wasn’t. The goat again stopped eating for days. I thought the condition would clear up again, but one morning I went out to the barn and found the goat dead, her head lying in a big pool of rumen fluid. I think she choked on the large amount of fluid that kept coming up because it couldn’t move beyond her rumen.
A few weeks later, another goat refused all food, but fortunately, by the end of the day, she was eating hay again. I hadn’t seen her eating straw, but that night, when I put her in the barn, I waited for a few minutes to see what she would do. Sure enough, she started to eat straw off the floor.
I now use the cheapest first-cutting hay for bedding.~ Jay Winslow
I can see that being a problem. I’ve only used straw a few times when does were close to giving birth and I’ve never had them eat it. What kind of straw were you using? I can imagine oat straw might be more appetizing to them. ~Audra, Lead Editor
I believe both of the straws mentioned in my letter were rye. My vet told me that she recently had an emergency call for a goat at a livestock show. The goat had straw bedding provided by the show venue, and it ate enough to clog up its rumen. My vet said she could feel the straw plug in the rumen. Fortunately, they were able to break it up, and the goat recovered.
~ Jay Winslow
In response to Goat Personality Traits and Their Importance in the Herd published in the March 15, 2025 digital issue
You are the first person I have run across who has properly examined goat behavior. I have considered writing about goats’ behavior since I’ve had a unique opportunity to study goats for 10 years now. I have 2, a purebred LaMancha and an American Alpine, who have traveled with me since their birth. I housetrained them, and they go everywhere with us in my Volvo XC90. They are more like our children than “pets” and certainly nothing like farm goats. Anyway, thanks for the excellent writing. It’s a good read. ~ Todd Wright
In response to Sweetened Condensed Milk published in the Summer 2024 issue
If I keep cooking, will this turn into caramel? ~ Mollie Duvall
Technically, no, it won’t be caramel. But it will be a delicious caramel-like sauce that’s close enough! I would recommend using a double boiler to keep it from burning. Also, if you want to make cajeta, we have a recipe for that: https://GoatJournal.IAmCountryside.com/Home-Dairy/Ole-Cajeta/ ~Audra, Lead Editor
