We are having very serious problems with cattle "eating" the leaves and breaking grafts on small (>7 feet) pecan trees.
We have about 40 head of cattle and about 400 pecan trees of various sizes in the pasture. Many of the pecans were grafted this year. Grass is always abundant and the cows are well taken care of.
When we planted the pecan seedlings, they were protected with a basket of "pig wire" about 18in in diameter by 5 feet tall. There was never any problem with the cattle (herefords) eating the pecan seedlings and small trees. We now have a different herd of cows (angus/simmental) and we are having terrible problems with tree damage.
We are making no grafts less than 7 feet off the ground but the cows are pushing over the grafted trees, eating the leaves and knocking the grafts off the trees.
We have been told that this is a "minerals" problem and that if we feed the cattle more minerals they will stop eating the trees. We do not find this to be true!! These cows have been seen eating not just pecan trees but also cedar trees although they have access to all sorts of mineral supplements.
We would really like to know if anyone has a "cure" for this problem. We have always understood that cattle and pecans were a good combination but not for us. We are on the verge of switching back to herefords.
Thanks much
We have about 40 head of cattle and about 400 pecan trees of various sizes in the pasture. Many of the pecans were grafted this year. Grass is always abundant and the cows are well taken care of.
When we planted the pecan seedlings, they were protected with a basket of "pig wire" about 18in in diameter by 5 feet tall. There was never any problem with the cattle (herefords) eating the pecan seedlings and small trees. We now have a different herd of cows (angus/simmental) and we are having terrible problems with tree damage.
We are making no grafts less than 7 feet off the ground but the cows are pushing over the grafted trees, eating the leaves and knocking the grafts off the trees.
We have been told that this is a "minerals" problem and that if we feed the cattle more minerals they will stop eating the trees. We do not find this to be true!! These cows have been seen eating not just pecan trees but also cedar trees although they have access to all sorts of mineral supplements.
We would really like to know if anyone has a "cure" for this problem. We have always understood that cattle and pecans were a good combination but not for us. We are on the verge of switching back to herefords.
Thanks much