Goats exhibit a definite preference for a varied diet, often consuming no less than 25 different plant species. This penchant for variety serves the goat well, for many of the ''weed'' species that are so eagerly consumed by goats have a higher mineral and protein content than grasses, owing to the greater root depth of the weeds. This grazing behavior can also work as a bonus for the livestock manager, as goats can graze quite productively on land that has been grazed over by cattle and other livestock, thus providing the manager with extra income from inter-species grazing of an otherwise ''depleted'' field. It also may help to explain why goats are less likely to bloat than almost any other ruminant. They will not overgraze succulent legumes. They do provide roughage for normal rumen activity through browsing of pasture grasses and brushes.
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