[On Pasture by Cathy Voth May 27 2013] -- One of the common questions I get from folks who hear me talk about training livestock to eat weeds is whether or not it is a good way to control weeds. For the answer, I’ll share what was in my head when I started trying to figure out the process for teaching animals to try a new food. 1. Using herbicides is expensive. Not only is there the cost of the chemical itself, but there’s the cost of the equipment to apply it, along with labor for learning about how to use it, sometimes getting certified to use it, then applying it. And it’s not a one time cost, but something that is repeated over and over again. 2. Herbicides don’t appear to be working. In spite of our best efforts, weed populations continue to expand at about 14% per year. So it seems like we’re pouring good money after bad. 3. Producers are often low on forage, particularly in arid areas or during drought. But weeds are always there, even in drought, AND they’re often higher in nutritional value than traditional grass-based forage. 4. Margins are pretty low in agriculture and the producers who can reduce costs are the ones who are going to be successful. 5. SO – If I can figure out how to get a cow to eat a weed, producers can eliminate the expense for weed control, they’ll have more feed at no additional cost, cows gain weight more rapidly when they eat higher protein foods, so farmers will be able to raise more, fatter cows more cheaply and they’ll make more money doing it. [Photo: This calf is eating musk thistle, just like her mom taught her to do.] Continue reading …