This message is from: Gail Russell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have >some pastures that were allowed to return to scrub in some areas. Typical >stuff like burdock and thistle probably some nettles. Would sheep be inclined >to eat this sort of stuff? What about buttercup?
I have pastured sheep, goats and cows on pastures with thistles, nettles and buttercup. Although they would nibble at thistles sometimes, and grab a bit of buttercup - when the pasture was eaten down and everyone was looking to me for the real food, the thistles nettles and buttercup were all still thriving. As to sheep eating down pasture too close - it is true. Horses can't eat down as far - though I believe they are more inclined to grab a chunk of grass and pull it out by the roots. Sheep pastures are usually nibbled down to nothing if they are overgrazed. Goats will eat poision ivy because it is a woody plant (a lot like your roses and other ornamentals). Pasture weeds are not woody - so not as interesting to goats. I had a goat reject the weeds in the pasture in favor of a fuscia hanging over my kitchen table. We were walking some guests out to their car (parked about a block away so the goats wouldn't prance on the hood of the then-new 1969 MGB roadster). We heard a noise in the house and went back to find that the goat had seen us leave, and took it as the perfect opportunity to run into the house, climb on the kitchen table and demolish the fuscia. When you chase them away after one of these episodes, they kick up their feet in glee as they flee from their outraged pursuers. :)
