quick dumb question

[cjb]

I don't have any cows yet but we are working at it...

I have heard that cows eat broad leaf weeds, in addition to grass. Is this true? Our pasture is split into three and I rotate two horses through them. However, the horses eat mostly just the grass. I wondered if cows are more likely to eat the weeds, as well.

Just curious - thanks.

Cliff

[travlnusa]

My cows will eat immature weeds, but once they get any size to them and become woody, they avoid them.

With that being said, I have seen pastures that look like putting greens. Guess if you overgraze to that degree, they will eat just about anything.

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Horses are the biggest picky eaters there are! Here at our farm the woods enclosed in the pastures are completely bare up to shoulder height. The cows not only graze the grass but also every tree leaf they can reach and most weeds except those with thorns. Even with grass knee high they will still eat leaves and weeds as they feel like it.

[sammyd]

Ours would escape the pasture and we would find them in a burdock patch grazing, actually browsing quite contentedly. Just the leaves though...not the big stems.

[Wingdo]

If you want to improve your fields with a tasty critter that would rather eat a weed than the finest Bluegrass, try a Boer goat! Mine would rather walk across a field of clover to eat a stick!

[tyusclan]

You want to make sure you don't have any nightshade out there for them to eat. They usually won't eat it unless they're hungry and there's nothing else, but once they start eating it, it's like a drug that they can't leave alone. It's poisonous and will eventually kill them.

[cjb]

Wingdo, I have goats already Mine won't eat all weeds but they hit most of them.

[Christiaan]

Highland cattle will eat lots of the broadleaf plants, they are pretty uniform grazers. They also thrive on browse and will pack on weight even on marginal pastures.

[Wingdo]

LOL... Reckon my clover might taste funny?

There's an old fella up the road a piece that said he raised cattle for 60 years and up until about 10 years ago wouldn't have a goat on his place if they were giving them away! Then his son brought ten home one day and now he says they are the best field improvement device since the mowing machine, and wouldn't be without them... 'cept they can sure get out at the most unopportune times!

[gracie88]

What kind of weeds? My half-a-cow (dexter) is better than a horse but there are a few things even she won't eat.