Goats love trees, and we love to give them trees. But as folks around town trim their fruit trees, it’s worth noting that the leaves of stone fruit trees such as peaches, plums, and apricots can be toxic to goats.
According to this information sheet by the National Agricultural Library, as the leaves of these trees wilt because of frost, cutting, etc. they develop hydrocyanic acid and sugar.
The sweet, wilted leaves are thus more attractive to animals than normal foliage. HCN content varies widely; but under some conditions a few handfuls of leaves may be enough to kill a horse or cow.
Unwilted leaves growing on healthy trees are not harmful, which is why goats who get into an orchard are not affected.
