Angora goats have been suggested as biological control agents for leaf
y spurge, especially in environmentally sensitive or limited access ar
eas, Dietary preferences and dietary nutritive content of herded Angor
a goats were evaluated over a two-year period in North Dakota, Relativ
e preferences of forages were evaluated by comparing botanical composi
tion of diets as determined by microhistological analysis of fecal sam
ples to forage availability in the field. Leafy spurge and shrubs comp
rised the largest percentage of goat diets throughout each grazing sea
son. Goats preferred leafy spurge and shrubs at all times and avoided
most cool-season grass species, The nutritional requirements of Angora
goats nursing kids were met throughout the grazing season. Use of Ang
ora goats is another tool available to land managers to manage leafy s
purge infestations in th Northern Plains.