i have heard that tobacco plants can be good bio mass for cattle. has anyone had any experience with goats eating tobacco plants? if so, is it healthy and does it taint the milk? thanks.

-- stuart allen reder (stureder@gci.net), February 06, 2001

Answers

Stuart, Tobacco plants are poisonous and will kill any animal that eats it. I lives in Tennessee, in Jackson county where tobacco was the main money crop and knew of serveral animal that died when they got into the tobacco barn and ate some of the hanging leaves. Please do not feed it to your goats. By the way goats really like pigweed and johnson grass so if you want to feed them something cheap and easily obtainable try that.

-- karen (kansasgoats@iwon.com), February 07, 2001.

Stuart, Tobacco can be used as a medicinal herb to help farm animals to pass worms. But, you should only use it in small amounts. Sincerely, US

-- Utopian Survivalist (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 11, 2001.

This is another great myth. In fact because of some of our neighbors who lost goats each year to worms and cocci, though they put blueing in the water and fed the goats cigaretts: I sent a letter into Joan Bowen (very well known small ruminent vet) who published an article in Dairy Goat Journal which concluded that the amount of tobacco that would be needed to kill the worms would also kill the goat. Even with this article in hand I got the "loud mouthed know it all broad look", thank the lord they have gotten out of goats, now we just have to dodge their dogs, chickens and pot bellied pigs when we drive past! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.

Gee Vicki, we must have been cut out of the same cloth-I frequently get that look around here. I Remember that article, interesting how people will hang onto myths. I guess I will be getting those "looks" until the day I die, or that the Lord does a really powerful work in me and I learn to shut my yap and just let them going on believing the myths. Never quite sure what is the right thing to do.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 12, 2001.

Diane, I always tell myself that I am going to butt out, and even on this forum I will tell myself I will stop posting. Then something happens, and for the sake of the stock..........well you know! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 12, 2001.