My cows don like the orchard grass — What is wrong?
Orchard grass tends to rank low on the scale of palatability compared to other grasses. Older varieties tend to be early maturing and can develop seed heads, which stock do not like. We have found that if the stock do not like the orchard grass, even if grazed young, the calcium, phosphorus, sulfur and sodium are likely low, while the potassium and nitrogen are high. I would suggest not guessing at the mineral levels in forages. Collect a sample grass in a good growing pasture and have a tissue test done of 15 minerals (Ca, P, Mg, K, S, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Co, Se, and others.) to determine what minerals are needed. Consider converting some paddocks to more palatable varieties.
