Seasonal variation in the preference of a herd of dairy goats when grazing grass, trees and shrubs or acorns was studied. Grass accounted for 70% (1478 mouthfuls), 76% (4221 mouthfuls) and 65% (2228 mouthfuls) of the selections made in the autumn-winter, spring and summer seasons, respectively, which showed a close relationship between palatability and degree of maturing of available grass. Ligneous species (trees and shrubs) were consumed to variable extents during the year, their consumption gradually increasing between autumn-winter, spring and summer, and accounting for 19% (395 mouthfuls), 24% (1303 mouthfuls) and 35% (1219 mouthfuls) in the three seasons, respectively. This increase was also a result of the decreasing availability of grass in the natural course of the seasons. Despite availability in autumn-winter period, holm and cork oak acorns only accounted for a small percentage in the overall ration (11%, 221 mouthfuls). The results revealed the importance of the herbaceous components within the total goat ration, goats using woody browse only when there was grass shortage.