High Nutrition Backyard Weeds to Feed Livestock!

By now, our regular viewers know just how much we love feeding our livestock with weeds and native plants. So today, we're going to take a look at the naturally occurring weeds, flowers, and shrubs growing all over the U.S. that are the best for grazing on, permanently. These are the ones that help keep our livestock fed and healthy by being the most nutritious out there. The great thing about flowers and shrubs is that they're less fibrous than grasses, which makes them a whole lot more digestible. And you know, most native weeds are actually real nutritionally dense. All of our top picks today are considered invaders of the vegetable patch. But instead of going on a kill and spree to rid your property of that crabgrass and dandelions, just hang tight and have a listen to how well-rounded they are in terms of feeding your animals. You might just start looking at the free food nature's been cultivating for you all these years with a First up, stinging nettle. Just like the name suggests, it's got a little bit of a bite to it. But hey, once it's been cut and dried, it doesn't sting at all. Then, it becomes quite palpable. It's packed with iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamins A, C, D, K, and all the B vitamins. And best of all, it comes with a whopping 22% protein. That's right, 22. It's actually comparable to clover when it comes to animal fodder. The great thing about nettle is that you can absolutely grow it and cut it down, just like you would alfalfa every few months before they flower and spread. Sure, it needs to be dried before the animals will eat it, but you can fit so much with so little care into a small space. That makes nettle a very easy and highly nutritious source of food for your animals. And it's not like you'll have trouble finding it. It grows in almost every state in the U.S. Next up, kudzu. We've mentioned kudzu a few times before. The killer of forests and probably the fastest growing invasive weed in the U.S. is actually a very palatable food source for all of your livestock. And it makes for a real convenient way to apply rotational grazing if you live in or around forested areas. You literally cannot overgraze an area of kudzu. This is the plant will always encourage folks to eradicate when they can. The invasive species has no natural enemies, and the only thing that can keep their numbers in check are pigs. So go on, save the forests and let your hogs loose on those high-protein vines. You can feed the high-demand hogs up to 60% with kudzu, and they'll be happy, healthy, and thriving. And speaking of devils that can take over, let's not forget crabgrass. Now surprisingly, it's not just the 14% worth of protein that makes crabgrass so valuable. It's also its ability to help cattle gain weight. It's actually the superior summer grass in terms of nutrition when compared to almost all other natural grazing grasses. And the best part? You don't need to do anything special to get it to grow. Chances are, it's already present in every corner of your property. It can be actively grown and cut into hay, especially since it grows so quickly, and you can get several harvests from it in a single season. Your animals will seek it out if they're given half a chance to graze on their own. Now you'll notice we're avoiding grasses for this round, and even though crabgrass is a grass sort, it grows so low and it's so universally despised by everyone that we just couldn't not add it to our list of weeds. Clover is a very well-known fodder option, but one variant usually gets forgotten about completely. Purple prairie clover doesn't even look a whole lot like its cousins, so it shouldn't be surprising that many folks overlook it. But we want to draw attention to it for one very specific reason. You know, besides being healthy for your animals. It's about where it can grow. For those of us who live in hilly areas, surrounded by ravines and generally uneven landscapes, prairie clover is your friend. They grow just as well on slopes as they do on flat plains. They're also one of the few plants that can thrive in sandy, erosion-prone soils. And while they're giving your poor soils some valuable root systems to keep what little you have in place, they'll increase the nitrogen in the soil. They are related to legumes, and their nutritional makeup is similar. But they can be overgrazed, so give the areas where they like to grow a good rest in between grazings. Bergamot is best suited to the cooler North American temperatures. Most folks grow it in their gardens because the purple blooms are just so pretty, but they're actively eradicated from farmland since they can take over real quick in the warm seasons. It's not the most nutritious wildflower on our list, but it's a very well-rounded medicinal plant that also happens to be highly palatable to cattle. Any inflammation and viral or bacterial infection will be treated naturally by the herds that seek them out. Bergamot is a great addition to seed mixes to add some variation and medicinal value to a field. These yellow bushes don't look all that much like the massive single-stalk sunflowers we're used to, but Maximilian sunflowers are indeed sunflowers. Have a look at the flowers individually. They're almost identical to regular sunflowers. They're just smaller and grow in clumps. And yep, they are comparable to sunflowers for feed purposes. Sunflowers aren't looked at nearly enough for fodder. It's got everything. Lysine, protein, vitamins, minerals, natural oils, fat, and palpability. It's applicable to the fowl, the ruminants, and even the ultra-particular horses. It's higher than alfalfa in absolutely everything, and that's from root to flower. Maximilians are very drought-hardy and the best option for rotational grazing of all. Given that it likes to grow together, it won't outgrow everything else. And once the bovines are done with a field, the pigs can come in afterwards to eat the stalks and dig up the roots. By the end of it all, your field will have gotten all the tilling and fertilizing it needs for the next planting to go down. Alright, so goldenrod. Now there's a real helper for both animals and folks alike. And you know, if the horses are willing to eat it, well, that's a pretty good sign for the rest of your livestock too. It's especially helpful for cattle with sensitive digestive systems, clearing out any other plants that might cause colic or spasms. It's packed with a good mix of carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. And, believe it or not, there's even a bit of fat in there. That's rare in wildflowers, let me tell ya. And hey, if you've got yourself some beehives, well then, your honey is gonna be something special. Goldenrod honey is one of the most sought-after honeys in the whole country. Now, I gotta say, it's high time comfrey stopped being called a weed. This plant is downright medicinal, for both people and animals. And I just can't believe it You'll want it in your garden, no doubt, for treating things like stomach ulcers, injuries both inside and out, and even respiratory infections. And yep, your animals can benefit from it too. Comfrey's got about 20% protein, plus a hefty dose of B12, making it a real powerhouse for your pasture. It grows well alongside other plants, don't need much fussing over, and gives your livestock a much-needed break from just plain grass. It's a bit of a shame, really, that we even gotta include blackberry bushes here. I mean, they're perfectly edible, and folks do love em, but they sure can take over a patch and choke out anything else you try to grow nearby. And those thorns? Ew, they're nasty. Keeps most folks from wanting to deal with em at all. So most times, folks just burn em out to make room for graze. But here's the thing. Goats, pigs, and cattle. They can eat around those thorns just fine. Pigs don't even seem to mind em one bit. And chickens? They'll gobble up the fallen berries, and even the bugs hiding in the rotten ones. Berries are some of the most nutritionally dense fruits out there, so it really ain't a surprise that livestock thrives on em. Don't go ripping out those bushes just cause they're a pain for you. Your hooved friends might just thank you for keeping em around. So, burdock grows in most US states. And honestly, seeing those purple blooms pop up along the roadside is so common that we kinda forget how useful this herb really is. And nope, those spiny bulbs don't bother the animals one bit. It's got a decent mix of protein, fiber, fats, and carbs. But hey, that's not really why it made our list. It's the iron, calcium, and hormone balancing properties that make it a standout. That makes it just perfect for feeding your milking cows, goats, and sheep. Lactating takes a lot out of them. And, well, those girls could use all the help they can get. And we're not just talking about animals that have calved recently, though it sure does help with recovering those reproductive organs. It's also great for the whole dairy production line. Plus, those long taproots. They're a real asset in soil that's prone to erosion or just plain dry and arid. Now, knapweed. It grows just about everywhere in the US. Seriously, there's hardly a place it won't grow, or a condition it won't tolerate. It's the perfect forage for folks who are new to their land and want some solid variety without putting in a ton of time or effort. Whether you're at a high or low altitude, whether it's a little wet or a bit dry, cool or hot, yeah, knapweed will grow. It's actually comparable to alfalfa, and let me tell you, it's mighty palatable. Only in the last 10 years or so have we really started to recognize knapweed as a top-notch feed. We always knew livestock would eat it, but we had no idea it was this nutritious. Now, goats, pigs, and sheep? They'll try just about anything new. But cows? Well, they're a bit more cautious when it comes to trying unfamiliar stuff. They might need a little introduction first, but trust me, once they get a taste, they won't think twice about eating it again. Dandelions? Yep, one of the most common weeds across the US. But hey, don't go pulling them out just yet. They've got so much to offer you and your animals that it just doesn't make sense not to let them grow on your land. Every time you turn a herd loose in a field, you better believe the dandelions are the first thing they go for. Even the chickens go nuts over them. And if you think back to your childhood, chances are you nibbled on those tangy sweet and sour stems once or twice yourself. A lot of farmers even grow dandelion fields on purpose just to bulk up their feed storage. It's got a little bit of everything, but it's especially high in calcium. And surprisingly, it's got some calories and carbs too. So unlike other weeds and herbs that are packed with nutrients but low on energy, dandelions have the added bonus of helping your animals put on some weight. And there you have it. The most nutritionally dense and well-rounded feed options that, let's be honest, you've probably been trying to wipe out for most of your adult life. But don't let the weeds win. Feed them to your hungry farm buddies instead. They'll be healthier for it. And you'll feel better knowing that the dreaded crabgrass invasion is actually doing some good for once. Nature's got everything you need to keep a well-fed and balanced farm running. You just gotta know where to look. So what do you think? Do you agree with our favorite native feed picks? Or have you been using a shrub or wildflower that we haven't mentioned yet? Let us know in the comments below. And while you're at it, go ahead and leave a like and this video. See y'all next week. Cheers.