Faye Streiff wrote:I did a lot of research on forages for livestock and made up a chart I use in the classes I teach here at Heartsong Farm.
Poplar leaves have 15 to 16 percent protein, sunchoke or sunflower leaves 14 to 28 percent, depending on whether young leaves or older leaves. Dandelion is 12 to 20 percent, with loads of other nutrients, and high in calcium. Lamb’s quarters are 24 to 28 percent, smartweed 22 to 26 percent. Multiflora rose is 14.5 to 18 percent and has a 59 to 1 calcium to phosphorous ratio, making it ideal for nursing moms. Brambles similar to rose. Young pigweed (wild amaranth) is 21 to 26. Young Ragweed comes in at 25 and the seeds are even higher. Plantain is 11 to 18 and kills bacterial infections in the gut. Black locust is 24. Chicory is 18 to 22 and sweet potato leaves 17. Elm leaves are 7 to 8 and honeysuckle 13 to 16, Lespedeza sericea is is 12 to 16. Birds foot trefoil is 15 to 28. Kudzu is one of the best forages, but toxic if hit by frost. It has 24.5 percent protein, and very high in minerals, especially calcium, good for growing, pregnant or lactating stock but might be too rich for adult males if they get a lot of it. Compare these percentages to alfalfa which is generally 17 percent. This is by no means a complete list and I hope this encourages you to research those plants which grow in your area. Always feed a wide variety so they don’t get too much of any one thing.
jack spirko wrote:See here is the thing all you need to do is talk to the teacher, ask the questions I gave you and judge for yourself. I am not trying to be consumer reports of PDC here. I just want people to know what to ask.