Grass that cows eat in the fields

Not all farms have prg mono culture grass. I bet if there was a study done it would show that the majority of grassland in Ireland is multi species. Our fields haven't seen a plough in 40 years, we don't spread artificial fertiliser and only use slurry produced by our own cattle. We also don't spray for weeds although this year (weather permitting) I am going to spray a couple of fields (non LIPP) for docks as they are increasing in numbers. We control weeds by topping after the cattle have grazed them and it's fairly successful. I pull Ragwort manually when I'm out herding and see a plant growing. Our fields have multi grass species that have survived over the years, plantain, clover, yellow rattle and lots of other plants growing (many of which flower during the summer) as well as nettle, thistles and docks.

emaherx wrote: »

Buttercups can actually give cows a belly ache.

Very few beef cattle are fed on the type of grass you describe, they are far more likely to be fed on more natural diverse grass swards. Or weedy rough grazing as some may know it as.

It amazes me how many visitors to this forum come with the opinion that all of our grass land is either a chemical enriched monoculture or they see nothing but fields full of weeds.

As Govt buildings is aware buttercups are part of the ranunculus genus, like all plants in that there is varying levels of toxcicity to mammals across that family.

Out of all the years to say there are no buttercups in fields though, lol. Never seen as many in county Cork.

As Bass points out the majority of fields in Ireland has never seen a plough or non native seed.



Too many damn studies from America being transferred over to here.

Government buildings wrote: »

The grass that cows eat in Ireland it's just forced green sward. Because of sprays, there are no buttercups daisies or other plants to give flavour.

The cattle have such a boring diet.

Silly generalised statement.