Plants cows won’t eat are an easy way to deter cows from eating your crops. There are several options for planting around a fence, and you can also plant shrubs to make it look nice. You can even mix and match different types of shrubs. Just be sure to keep the shrubs far enough away from the fence to act as a deterrent.
Unappealing shrubs
There are a variety of shrubs that are bitter to cows. While they may be edible to humans, cows prefer more appealing plant life, so you may want to consider removing shrubs from your garden. While they won’t eat certain plants, most plants can be fed to cattle.
Poisonous plants and shrubs are not only harmful to cows, but also to humans and other domestic animals. Common poisonous shrubs include foxgloves, castor oil plants, autumn crocuses, and bleeding heart. There are also a number of ornamentals that are poisonous for cows and other livestock.
Bitter plants
There are some plants that cows don’t eat, and this is a good sign. Some of them are poisonous. For example, curly dock is very bitter and can take over a pasture. However, you don’t have to get rid of it. By adding a little bit of it, your cattle will be able to graze and enjoy its flavor.
In the Southwest, bitterweed is one of the main problems that livestock face. This annual, flowering plant is toxic to livestock. The bitter taste increases as the plant grows older, and is a common source of gastrointestinal issues in sheep. The plant contains a compound called sesquiterpene lactone, which is poisonous to livestock.
