Kochia Safe or Dangerous for Cattle
Kochia, (sounds like Cochise), has been the subject of USDA rangeland research in Utah and this plant that loves high desert and juniper regions has been found to be nutritious winter forage for cattle. Is it safe? I’m Susan Allen stay tuned for Open Range, Some consider Kochia a noxious weed for others it’s a prized winter forage for cattle. So what is it? Both. There are two types of Kochia, scoparia known as burning bush or fireweed and prostrata which is a perennial broadleaf used as forage. In fact in the recent USDA research plot in Utah they have determined that forage kochia is more nutritious for cattle than rangeland. Forage kochia supports 1.38 cattle per acre where typical scrub land only .24 animals. It’s getting attention given the fact it is easily seeded, it can withstand wildfires, it’s drought tolerant, can grow on damaged land and the best part is that it suppresses cheatgrass, Russian thistle and medusahead rye. Pretty perfect in my book. Intermountain Ranchers have been aware of the benefits of Kochia for years but it hasn’t been until the high cost of alfalfa that it’s being taken seriously as an feed alternative. New taller strains from Kazakhstan and Russia are being studied, because taller kochia could poke through the snowdrifts for easier reach and would help cattle during the harsh winter months, The plant’s been successfully grown in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming at elevations ranging from 1,600 to 7,300 ft. and for more Kochia infor visit this story on aginfo.net http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_kopr80.pdf
