Kochia for feed??

[1sttimemom]

I saw some folks asking about Kudzu for desert forage. I don't know a thing about it. I do have some experience with this weedy plant called Kochia. It grows around my area like crazy. Apparently is very drought resistant due to huge tap root. We didn't plant it but it grows all over and our horses and goats eat it like crazy. Even our chickens and my kids pet bunny eat it. I have seen people cut & bale it and it's supposed to be high protien like alfalfa but uses WAY less water. I don't think it's native either cuz I think it's from somewhere like Turkey or something. I don't know all the down sides but I'm sure it has issues too. But it might be something to look into for supplimental or emergency feeding.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Picture?

[bruce2288]

I have heard of it being planted in Texas for forage. It often grows is cattle yards here, in high nitrogen fertilizer conditions it can be high in nitrate, which many grasses and weeds can when growing with high fertility and moisture stress. My cattle and sheep like it fine.

[1sttimemom]

You can find lots of pics on internet. Ya, I've heard it can have issues like any other feed. But it is very drought tolerant and right now the parches of it we have are huge and green while everything else is drying out and not growing.