Can I feed grass cuttings to my cows, will it hurt them no chemicals have ever been put on the yard.

-- Don Amon (peacelane@certainty.net), April 24, 2002

Answers

Why not picket them on the lawn so you dont have to cut the grass. :>)

I think clippings can cause problems as they arnt dried properly and can achieve a toxicity if allowed to begin anerobic decomposition. Ask Ken to know for sure.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Don we have been feeding grass cuttings to our cows and pigs for years without any problems. We start up the lawn mower and the cattle come running!!

-- Jay from MN (candlebn@maxminn.com), April 24, 2002.

Fed fresh there is no problem, be sure to remove any substansial leftovers that could rot. Slimey clippings are bad moldy clippings are toxic. Listeria is a bacteria that infects the brain or causes abortions, it comes from moldy feed or poorly ensiled feed.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), April 24, 2002.

There is some concern about the short grass length if it is the primary fiber the cattle get.

Cattle really don't like changing their feed source very often - it upsets the mircobes in their tummy. The problem with fresh green grass trimmings is if you are feeding them dry hay, & they get a lot of fresh green short lawn dumped at them one day a week.

If they get a small amount regularly, or are already on green pasture, then there is no harm at all.

As the others said, keep it fresh, no mold or slime.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.