This was intriguing.

[littlecowfl]

I thought this was kind of a neat idea, but it would need to be modified a little for most of us. In our climate, bushes will prevail very quickly. I am looking at growing other plants, besides pasture grass, to supplement. For us, it looks like white clover in the winter, millet and cow peas in the spring. There are places in our pasture where the grass doesn't do well because the clay is too heavy or it's too wet. These other plants will grow there and tolerate enough shade to grow in the areas with trees. It's extra work, but it might be worth it.

www.bbc.com/reel/video/p079w8bk/how-a-new-diet-for-gassy-cows-is-helping-the-environment

[cddexter]

great idea, Alicia, and what's more, lots of people have checked out your post. This gives me hope IDC isn't dead yet, it's just waiting for people to see this is the site for real info, as opposed to all the just as uninformed posts that answer questions on facebook sites.

Have you checked out birdsfoot trefoil? Birdsfoot trefoil is generally used in areas that receive 20 inches of precipitation or more. It is suited to low and moderately fertile soils with relatively poor internal drainage but is usually less productive than alfalfa on fertile, deep, well-drained soils. It performs well on soils too shallow or too poorly drained for alfalfa. It is equal to alfalfa in tolerance to saline-alkaline soils and is adapted to soils of medium acidity. The best pH range for establishment is 6.0 to 6.5 though it tolerates a broader pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. Would that work for you? Good thoughts in your direction, cheers, c.

[Pinevalleydexters]

Jun 1, 2019 20:02:18 GMT -5 cddexter said:

great idea, Alicia, and what's more, lots of people have checked out your post. This gives me hope IDC isn't dead yet, it's just waiting for people to see this is the site for real info, as opposed to all the just as uninformed posts that answer questions on facebook sites.

Have you checked out birdsfoot trefoil? Birdsfoot trefoil is generally used in areas that receive 20 inches of precipitation or more. It is suited to low and moderately fertile soils with relatively poor internal drainage but is usually less productive than alfalfa on fertile, deep, well-drained soils. It performs well on soils too shallow or too poorly drained for alfalfa. It is equal to alfalfa in tolerance to saline-alkaline soils and is adapted to soils of medium acidity. The best pH range for establishment is 6.0 to 6.5 though it tolerates a broader pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. Would that work for you? Good thoughts in your direction, cheers, c.

We have birdsfoot trefoil in our hay fields and pastures it grows really well in Northern Wisconsin, and doesn’t freeze out like alfalfa. 
I agree that people are finding this site, I had someone follow my link on the auction page and contact me about our cows.
Hopefully people will figure out that this site is here and make use of all the useful information.

[cddexter]

Cathy, oops, your pic is upsidedown??

[littlecowfl]

Thanks for the tip, cddexter!

[Pinevalleydexters]

Jun 3, 2019 10:00:38 GMT -5 cddexter said:

Cathy, oops, your pic is upsidedown??

Strange it doesn’t appear upside down for me. Thank you! I will check on it on tiny pic.