I never really thought about this question until I watched my goats jailbreak out of what appeared to be a plentiful green pasture to go in search of something better to eat. I assumed my animals would just automatically graze whatever was available. It turns out that’s not exactly true. There is an instinctive element to what goats eat as well as a learned element. As kids, they learn much like we learn based on what Mom points them to and their own body’s response to it. What and how much they graze depends largely on experience. A pastured goat will be exposed to the entire pasture buffet and search out what they like best using smell and taste, and then eat based on what their bodies need. They like taking some of this and some of that, eating all the shrimp first and leaving behind the iceberg lettuce and stale croutons. I was amazed to see them taste and then instinctively know that baking soda was good for them. They seek it out and take a few licks when they come in from the pasture with full stomachs. Their favorite tree leaves are hackberry, they instinctively won’t touch a chinaberry. They will mob a cedar tree for it’s natural deworming properties. They eat different grasses but they do not effectively mow the lawn. They are very selective. I’m learning to pay attention to what is available out in the pastures. The raising of livestock on our farm is about offering a nutritional buffet that allows them to manage as much of their own health as possible, without costly inputs from us.