Minerals for Goats: Why Goats and Sheep Need Different Ones

Goats need more copper than sheep, and sheep are easily poisoned by copper over time, so goats should have a mineral made for goats and sheep a mineral made for sheep, in separate places. Loose minerals are easier for goats to take than hard blocks, but blocks cope better with rain. Soils differ, so ask your vet what your land lacks.

One fence, two minerals.

Goat minerals in brief.

Goat minerals at a glance
Goats	Need more copper; use a goat-labeled mineral
Sheep	Copper-sensitive; never give them goat minerals
Loose mineral	Easier to eat; needs cover from rain
Lick or block	Weatherproof; harder for goats to eat enough
Local soils	Vary; ask your vet about deficiencies

Why Goats Need a Different Mineral From Sheep

Goats need more dietary copper than sheep. Sheep are unusually sensitive to copper: the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that cattle and goats are more resistant to copper poisoning than sheep, which can build it up over time. That's why minerals are sold by species.

If goats and sheep share a property, a single "all-species" mineral will be wrong for one of them. Give each species its own mineral, in a place the other can't reach.

Loose Minerals or Licks?

Loose minerals and licks compared
Format	Pros	Cons
Loose mineral	Easy for goats to eat enough	Needs a covered feeder; clumps in the wet
Lick or block	Weatherproof, tidy	Goats may struggle to lick enough

Either can work. Many keepers offer loose minerals free-choice in a covered feeder inside the shed. Watch how fast it goes down: very fast or not at all are both worth mentioning to your vet.

Your Soil Matters

Selenium, copper and other trace minerals vary a lot between regions, so a mineral that suits one area may not suit another. Your farm vet will know the common shortfalls in your area and can test if they suspect a problem. Read labels so you know what you're offering, and don't add extra supplements on top without your vet's advice: too much of some minerals is as harmful as too little.

A dull coat or slow growth can have many causes, so ask your vet rather than changing the mineral and hoping.

Worming, parasite treatments and other medicines: see your vet or a pet supply store with trained staff. Farm animals are a food-producing species in law in many countries, even as pets, so treatments follow farm rules and need recording.

The Law: Rules Differ by Country

Pigs, sheep, goats and cattle kept as pets usually count as farm animals in law. That means registration, identification and movement records, and food-safety rules for any medicines, even for one pet animal that will never be eaten.

United Kingdom: In England you need a County Parish Holding (CPH) number for the land before the animals arrive, then a herd or flock mark from APHA, approved ear tags (or other ID), movement reporting and a holding register. Keepers of food-producing animals must also keep medicine records, for at least five years. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (DAERA) run their own systems. Start at registering land for livestock on gov.uk.
United States: City or county zoning decides whether you can keep livestock at home. Your state department of agriculture or state veterinarian sets health and movement rules, and many sheep and goats need official scrapie identification when they leave your property or change owner.
Elsewhere: Canada (CFIA and your province), Australia (your state or territory agriculture department), Ireland (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries) all have livestock ID and movement rules.

Kitchen scraps and fallen stock: don't feed kitchen scraps to farm animals; in the UK and the EU it is illegal, pets included. In Great Britain, farm species generally can't be buried at home when they die, even pets; check with APHA or your local council.

Rules change, so check with your national authority before you buy.

Goat Mineral Kit

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Choose a loose mineral or a lick clearly labeled for goats. A covered mineral feeder keeps loose minerals dry, and a wall-mounted lick holder keeps a block clean and off the floor. If you keep sheep too, buy a sheep mineral separately and place it where goats can't reach.

Goats and Sheep Together

Goats and sheep can share grazing, but their minerals, licks and goat feeds must stay apart. Put goat minerals in the goat shed, high up or behind a creep gate sheep can't use, and check that sheep can't get at goat feed either, since many goat feeds contain added copper. Our sheep page covers the sheep side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mixed-species mineral setups raise these questions.

Can goats and sheep share a field?

Yes. The risk is shared minerals and feed, not grazing together. Keep species-specific minerals and goat feed out of the sheep's reach.

How much copper is too much for a sheep?

It depends on the sheep, the diet and the land, so we don't give a figure. Never give sheep goat minerals or feeds with added copper, and ask your vet if you're unsure.

Are loose minerals better than blocks?

Goats find loose minerals easier to eat, but they need a covered feeder. Blocks are weatherproof but harder for goats to lick enough of. Either can work.

Do I need a goat mineral if I don't keep sheep?

Yes. Goats need the minerals whatever else lives on your land; the sheep issue is only about keeping goat minerals away from sheep.

Should I add extra copper or selenium?

Not without your vet's advice. Needs depend on your area, and too much of either can be harmful.