Burnet: (Sanguisorba Minor) for dry pasture forage crop.

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Last summer while discussing a new pasture management program with the local CO-OP field rep, he reached down and pick up a hand full of what I thought to be a noxious weed in my pasture and said he thought it might be a useful herb. A week later I got a 4 page FAX from him with a report on BURNET, this is s small part of the report. Adaptation Based on results from testing Burnet, it has a wide range of soils and climate it is adapted to. The inclusive average annual precipitation of 12 inches or more. It will establish and grow on soils with a ph up to 8.0 and has survived winter temperatures as low as -33F. with minimal snow cover. It is not adapted to poorly drained soils which have high water tables. And, Small Burnet is a preferred food plant of game animals, particularly in late winter and early spring. birds, both game and non-game, readily consume the seed. It is very palatable to livestock which utilize it.

I have been told that it is used for sheep forage in New Zealand & Australia. I have read that cows do not like it as well as sheep but my steers eat it regularly and I have not had any complaints from my customers. I have irrigated land but by this time of the year my water supply is minimal so my pastures go dry, the Burnet, which seems to have really taken off, (due to fertilizer, mowing & grazing)has filled in and supports the wild grasses, clover & orchard grass. In april I applied 200# to the acre of 20-20-20. It seems withstand heavy grazing tho I do rotate weekly. The fortunate thing about it is, I have no idea where it came from, whether it was propagated by a former land owner. "Plants have been known to to persist as long as 20 years on Utah range lands". "It is believed the useful life of the plant can be prolonged if it is periodically permitted to develop a mature seed crop which would shatter and be dispersed on the ground".

Our annual percipitaion is 30-32" my ph is 6.8 If anyone is interested in this forage crop they might try there Ag college or county agent for further in formation.

-- R.P. Henderson (redgate@echoweb.net), July 25, 2000

Answers

R.P., years ago I read a book about a farmer in UK who had formulated an nerb blend for his pastures, and one of the things he included was burnet. He said that his animals were very healthy, never had the vet out for anything since he changed his pastures over. I can't remember the name of the book, if anyone else has read it, would appreciate being reminded.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 25, 2000.

Have a cat who got very sick for awhile and I would find her In the back eating cat nip[ she is fine now thyroid problem]. I discovered My sons old guinia pig was paralized from the waist back one day, He wasnt In pain and still eating and drinking so I picked some catnip and spearment for him and the next day he was walking again.I think animals can since what they need and if its avalible they will use it.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), July 25, 2000.

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