nutritional farming
Hay , Herbs And Fruit
I chose to make a pasture that contains plants that aid in the success of my animals rather than just keeping them alive.
not all hay is created equal.
not all hay is created equal and value alters depending on what stage of growth they are in as well as the health of the plant itself and how well it was stored.
some hay is even toxic such as sudan which contains about 6-8% crude protein and 50-60% total digestible nutrients but carries the risk of cyanide poisoning as well a cystitis and ataxia in general i find it far to risky to consider a proper forage. (Click here for more)
another toxic hay would be johnsons
Nitrate Toxicity is a risk as well as cystitis. This hay gets drought stressed, then with rain, if you graze or cut it at the wrong time it poisons your livestock. its a hay that has to be tested regularly and is horrid IMO for safe grazing. if they graze johnsons and you have sudden deaths this is likely why.
both common hays in texas, neither is hay I would use nor recommend just because it can be eaten doesn't mean its actually good which is why many animals on pasture with no additional feeding and minimal worming protocol can score extremely low on body condition despite the forage given.
Recommendations
For livestock pastures
I recommend the following
Bermuda Grass
Timothy
Alfalfa ( in a MIXED pasture as to much protein is also unhealthy)
Sainfoin (parasite and bloat resistance aid Nutrient content is similar to alfalfa and better drought tolerance better for grazing than cutting)
Orchard Grass (doesnt take the cold well)
White Clover
Chicory
Raspberry (great for does, especially when lactating!)
Blackberry (An overall nutritious forage product that also has anti-diarrheal properties, great for an ailing goat needing easy-to-consume browse)
Mint (This herb has so many uses – but is especially great for bloat, digestive issues, pain, and calming)
perennial peanut ( in a MIXED pasture as to much protein is also unhealthy)
Moringa (high crude protein tree forage)
Mulberry (Fun fact – mulberry is very similar to alfalfa in how it acts in the diet, though MUCH higher in minerals and can replace it in a 1:1 ratio)
Birdsfoot Trefoil ( good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, reduce bloat risk and parasite load)
big bluestem and indiangrass as well as switch grass have shown to do well as native grass inclusions. 11-12% CP (Link)
Sunflowers
fennel (natural wormer)
Fenugreek
olive tree
​
​
​
​
Healthy hay Seed mix- 20.00, 1lb
contains seed from:
Sainfoin
birdsfoot trefoil
alfalfa
soybean
bermuda
lespedeza will be added to pasture in 2024
Live plants:
​
Berries- 5.00+ a plant
tayberry
apache Blackberry
Ebony king black berry
Jewel Black Raspberry
Dewberry
Lingonberry
gooseberry
goji berry
white carolina strawberry
pineberry
Ozark beauty strawberry
seqoia strawberry
american elderberry (being addd 2025)
Delite Blueberry (being addd 2025)
​
Vegetables /hops seeds and rhizomes
​
perennial peanut - 5.00+ a plant (on hold )
columbus hop rhizome
chinook rhizome
fruit trees
pink lady apple tree 20.00+ a sapling
arbeq.Olive tree 20.00+ a sapling
Moringa 20.00+ a sapling
Mulberry 20.00+ a sapling
bayleaf 20.00+ a sapling
angel pomegranate 20.00+ a sapling
Surh-Anor Pomegranate seedling
salvatski pomegranate seedling
soursop gabamba seeds
pawpaw seeds
papaya seedling
cacao powder only
manhattan fig seedling
desert king fig seedling
comice pear seedling
pineapple pear seeds
methley plum sapling
mume japanese apricot sapling
pineapple guava sapling
stella cherry sapling
meyer lemon sapling
experimental/hybrid fruit tree saplings
​
​
​
​
​
flowers
rose SEEDS 10 seeds 4.00 selected for fragrance and large blooms, shrubs .white,orange, red , yellow, pink, purple and marroon. crosses and purebred varieties.
​
parrot tulip bulbs
icecream tulip bulbs
cactus dahlia
giant dinnerplate dahlia
​
​