Browse block/ Tree ID - silvopasture2024-03-29T06:07:48Zhttp://silvopasture.ning.com/forum/topics/browse-block-tree-id?commentId=6457695%3AComment%3A10267&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI don't think chipping even t…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-06-02:6457695:Comment:105222014-06-02T02:26:09.190ZBrett Chedzoyhttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/BrettChedzoy
<p>I don't think chipping even the small stuff would pencil out in any way, shape or form. Might make things look prettier, but wouldn't accomplish much in terms of improving the silvopastures. Picture below of a current thinning at Cornell's Arnot Forest where the "best if left, and cut the rest". Trees are utilized to 4" diameter. The slash (residues) wouldn't impede livestock grazing much (especially at high densities) and should break down quickly. …</p>
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<p>I don't think chipping even the small stuff would pencil out in any way, shape or form. Might make things look prettier, but wouldn't accomplish much in terms of improving the silvopastures. Picture below of a current thinning at Cornell's Arnot Forest where the "best if left, and cut the rest". Trees are utilized to 4" diameter. The slash (residues) wouldn't impede livestock grazing much (especially at high densities) and should break down quickly. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2507094343?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2507094343?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p> I think the palatability/dige…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-05-28:6457695:Comment:104422014-05-28T13:01:30.163ZCJ Sloanehttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/CJSloane
<p>I think the palatability/digestibility of the stems may depend on the species and age. New growth certainly look more tender and with willow I have watched them eat the whole branch if it's tender.</p>
<p>I think the palatability/digestibility of the stems may depend on the species and age. New growth certainly look more tender and with willow I have watched them eat the whole branch if it's tender.</p> Just my own observation but m…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-05-28:6457695:Comment:102672014-05-28T01:50:23.649ZJim Medeiroshttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/JimMedeiros
<p>Just my own observation but my stock will eat the leaves and petiole, not the actual stems, I would think chipping the stems into the mixture would increase the fiber too much as there would be a lot more stem to leaf ratio. I also wonder how much of the stems would be digestible fiber, which may cause your stock to actually loose weight with a full belly. In some ways similar to corn silage that is chopped when the fiber is too high or does not ensile properly. <br></br> <br></br> <cite>CJ…</cite></p>
<p>Just my own observation but my stock will eat the leaves and petiole, not the actual stems, I would think chipping the stems into the mixture would increase the fiber too much as there would be a lot more stem to leaf ratio. I also wonder how much of the stems would be digestible fiber, which may cause your stock to actually loose weight with a full belly. In some ways similar to corn silage that is chopped when the fiber is too high or does not ensile properly. <br/> <br/> <cite>CJ Sloane said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://silvopasture.ning.com/forum/topics/browse-block-tree-id?xg_source=activity#6457695Comment10366"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I remember you telling the story about the cattle dying from wilted cherry at a conference a few years ago but I didn't recall the selenium deficiency -just that everyone was panicked about a possible new cattle disease.</p>
<p>I do know that I have been slightly skeptical of the poison lists because they always include black locust which cows, sheep & goats are clearly fine with.</p>
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<p>I'll proceed cautiously, but with a little more confidence. I've got a lot of striped maple to get rid of so it' be great to use it as fodder.</p>
<p>Any thought on putting the leaves and small (1/4") branches thru a chipper? I was thinking that at least what they don't eat would break down quicker and avoid the slash accumulation you mentioned.</p>
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</blockquote> No, the first pic is of a lea…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-05-24:6457695:Comment:104412014-05-24T01:53:36.812ZCJ Sloanehttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/CJSloane
<p>No, the first pic is of a leaf, and the second pic is of the whole tree. Definitely not a conifer, some kind of willow. Those little pine needle looking thing are seeds or catkins or something.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Brett Chedzoy said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://silvopasture.ning.com/forum/topics/browse-block-tree-id?commentId=6457695%3AComment%3A10438&xg_source=msg_com_forum#6457695Comment10438"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>looks like two plants in the picture. The conifer…</p>
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<p>No, the first pic is of a leaf, and the second pic is of the whole tree. Definitely not a conifer, some kind of willow. Those little pine needle looking thing are seeds or catkins or something.<br/> <br/> <cite>Brett Chedzoy said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://silvopasture.ning.com/forum/topics/browse-block-tree-id?commentId=6457695%3AComment%3A10438&xg_source=msg_com_forum#6457695Comment10438"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>looks like two plants in the picture. The conifer seedling appears to be a larch.</p>
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</blockquote> I remember you telling the st…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-05-24:6457695:Comment:103662014-05-24T01:49:26.474ZCJ Sloanehttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/CJSloane
<p>I remember you telling the story about the cattle dying from wilted cherry at a conference a few years ago but I didn't recall the selenium deficiency -just that everyone was panicked about a possible new cattle disease.</p>
<p>I do know that I have been slightly skeptical of the poison lists because they always include black locust which cows, sheep & goats are clearly fine with.</p>
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<p>I'll proceed cautiously, but with a little more confidence. I've got a lot of striped maple…</p>
<p>I remember you telling the story about the cattle dying from wilted cherry at a conference a few years ago but I didn't recall the selenium deficiency -just that everyone was panicked about a possible new cattle disease.</p>
<p>I do know that I have been slightly skeptical of the poison lists because they always include black locust which cows, sheep & goats are clearly fine with.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'll proceed cautiously, but with a little more confidence. I've got a lot of striped maple to get rid of so it' be great to use it as fodder.</p>
<p>Any thought on putting the leaves and small (1/4") branches thru a chipper? I was thinking that at least what they don't eat would break down quicker and avoid the slash accumulation you mentioned.</p> looks like two plants in the…tag:silvopasture.ning.com,2014-05-23:6457695:Comment:104382014-05-23T12:48:37.770ZBrett Chedzoyhttp://silvopasture.ning.com/profile/BrettChedzoy
<p>looks like two plants in the picture. The conifer seedling appears to be a larch.</p>
<p>Tree fodder can certainly be a good quality and opportune feed for most livestock. I came across this article on how trees are used to feed animals in areas where forages aren't an option. <a href="http://www.grahamandrews.com/fodder_trees.html">http://www.grahamandrews.com/fodder_trees.html</a> </p>
<p>Some personal observations regarding tree fodder:</p>
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<li>It can be labor-intensive, especially…</li>
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<p>looks like two plants in the picture. The conifer seedling appears to be a larch.</p>
<p>Tree fodder can certainly be a good quality and opportune feed for most livestock. I came across this article on how trees are used to feed animals in areas where forages aren't an option. <a href="http://www.grahamandrews.com/fodder_trees.html">http://www.grahamandrews.com/fodder_trees.html</a> </p>
<p>Some personal observations regarding tree fodder:</p>
<ol>
<li>It can be labor-intensive, especially through pollarding (as you've come to see). Easiest way is to rotate livestock through areas when thinning trees to glean what they can from the crows. The downside is that it doesn't take long to accumulate a lot of slash (tree debris) on the ground. On our farm, it has worked best when cutting small-diameter, suppressed trees in the lower strata (trees that don't have large, rigid crows). Small trees can be left hinged to the stump if you want the feed source to persist beyond the initial feeding.</li>
<li>We've yet to experience toxicity issues with any of our animals (including the horses) from eating tree fodder (including red maple and cherry), but that doesn't mean there isn't a significant risk and EVERYONE should ease into this one. Some of the things that we do to minimize the risks are:</li>
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<li>keep animals +/- continously exposed to sources of browse so that their curiosity of something novel doesn't compel them to gorge</li>
<li>make sure there's plenty of other stuff to eat (like forages) - not just a couple of maple tops inside a small electronet paddock. Livestock are often able to dilute or neutralize toxins if they have a diverse diet of other plants and plant compounds.</li>
<li>A balanced mineral mix seems to help (and plenty of fresh water). A local cattleman here had prussic acid (wilted cherry) poisoning issues here a couple of falls ago. Vet finally determined it was linked to selenium deficiency (the cows were only receiving white salt blocks)</li>
<li>Stressed animals are usually going to be more susceptible than healthy ones</li>
<li>I haven't found any information comparing the nutritional quality of tree leaves over the course of the growing season, but suspect they maintain a fairly high level of crude protein until they start to change color in the fall</li>
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