Every magazine has its regular spring features, tweaked just a bit for whatever new product or idea is out that year. On Pasture is no different in that every year I remind readers that cows can eat weeds, can be every bit as good at it as goats and sheep, and when they eat weeds, you have more forage and fewer expenses tied up in fighting those invasive nuisances. Even better, weeds are often more nutritious than pasture grasses. As they mature, grasses dry and turn brown, while weeds stay green and nutritious throughout the growing season. Finally, it only takes 8 hours spread over 7 days to teach a cow to add weeds to her diet, and you do it once and you’re done! It takes more time to apply herbicide, plus you have to do that over and over. So, why not take a little time to do this fun thing with your livestock, whether they’re cows, sheep, goats or bison?
In the Edible Weeds and Training Recipe ebook, I’ve included information on 139 weeds and whether or not they are edible. Here are a few of the edible weeds I’ve written about at On Pasture over the years.
Canada thistle
Whiteop/Hoary Cress
Horsenettle
Mimosa/Chamber bitterweed,
Teaweed/Spiny Sida
Goldenrod
Spotted Knapweed in fact, Spotted Knapweed is the new alfalfa!
Diffuse Knapweed
Russian Knapweed
Leafy Spurge
Muliflora Rose
Sagebrush
Brush of all sorts
More Forage for No Money!
This is the best reason to teach your livestock to eat weeds. And as you know, I wouldn’t make a claim if I couldn’t back it up. So here you go:
Another answer: 200,000 more cows a year in a 17-state region.
In 2010, a rangeland ecologist working for the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) developed an online calculator that could tell producers how many more cattle they could raise if they were able to eliminate one or two widespread invasive plants. He used it to estimate that ranchers in a 17-state region could raise 200,000 more cows a year and save tens of millions of dollars if leafy spurge were eliminated. Check out what he learned and how we can help him accomplish that dream – by teaching livestock to eat those weeds.
And Yes, There’s Science Behind the Training Method
You should know by now that many of my sentences start with “Research says…” so naturally that goes for the training method I created to teach cows to eat weeds. If that’s helpful to you, here’s a bit about that too.
Why Cows Can Eat Weeds – The Science Behind How Animals Choose What to Eat
How Should I Graze to Best Manage Weeds?
You need to know some things about your weed so you can choose the right timing and grazing intensity. In general, since they come up earlier than many of our “preferred” forages, hitting them early can slow them down and give your grasses and other forages a competitive advantage. Another great time to hit them is just as they’re beginning to flower. This reduces seed set and how many weeds you’ll have to manage in coming years.
Here’s a free ebook I put together on how to manage grazing for three weeds: Canada thistle, leafy spurge, and spotted knapweed. Even if these aren’t your weeds, it will give you an example of what you need to know and how to adjust your grazing.
Managing Livestock to Meet Weed Management Goals – Free Download
More Frequently Asked Questions
Check out this article for answers to these questions:
Do I have to train my whole herd?
Can I just spray molasses on my weeds to get animals to eat them?
Don’t the spines and prickles on the plant hurt animals?
If the plants have toxins, won’t animals be poisoned?
Does weed eating affect the meat or milk?
Will weed-eating animals spread weeds?
Can livestock eradicate weeds?
Is Kathy a Kook?
Is Kathy a Kook and Other FAQs About Teaching Livestock to Eat Weeds
Are you ready to try training?
First, here are the training steps.
Next, I’ve published all the training steps and so much more about how to teach your livestock to become weed managers. You can find a lot of that information here. There are links to On Pasture articles, to Youtube videos showing the training in action, and to downloadable ebooks. Check it out!
Your Funny for the Week
Back when I toured the country telling folks that cows can become weed-eaters, it was common for me to look out at the audience and see a lot of skepticism. So I often ended my presentations with one of these two videos. Enjoy!
