At Jumping Horse Ranch in Ennis, Montana, splitting out a small herd for training doesn't work well for their operation. So, in 2008, I adjusted the training process so that we could train 110 pair in pasture. We used the cake feeder they were accustomed to seeing, dropping the unfamiliar feeds off the back morning and afternoon.
Once the herd was coming well, we began training them to eat Canada thistle. Collecting thistles for this many animals is a huge chore. It was only bearable because we hired 6 kids between the ages of 10 and 16 for $10 an hour and Dairy Queen treats. They were so enthusiastic that it only took about an hour to fill 8 grain bags with thistle, and then they mixed it up in tubs for me too. If you don't have this kind of help, see if you can find an area where you can use a weed whacker or a mower to collect weeds or be prepared to suffer. We only trained to weeds for two days because of the difficulty of picking weeds and because the cows and calves were eating all of what we brought them. They began practicing in a 5 acre pasture, eating mostly buds and larger leaves. When I returned a month later to check on their progress, they were grazing both musk and Canada thistle even with the grass. |
The animals see the feeds better if you drive a flattened area into the grass. It also helps to choose feeds that contrast in color with the grass.
Don't begin training for weeds until the herd is coming well to the unfamiliar foods.
These trainees moved easily from Canada thistle on to musk thistle. They ate it as soom as they arrived in their first trial pasture.
Cows follow cake feeding trailer and eat weeds as we pour weed mixture out.
Trainees ate thistle even in lush grass pastures.