Sunflowers for silage

[treytex]

I have an acre that is covered in weeds and I want to plant sunflowers early to grow up over the weeds to attract doves and beneficial insects to my tomato garden. Would it be beneficial to let calves or cows eat the mature green sunflower leaves and stalks? Would it be poisonous or harmful to the cattle? Tomatoes? I think you can grow a crop of sunflowers by just broadcasting the seeds on unplowed ground. Any comments appreciated.

 

[treytex]

Is the reason noone will repond to this question is because it is retarded? I know tomatos are toxic to cattle but I dont know about sunflower leaves and stalks

 

[greatgerts]

I think maybe it is the oil that is used. I will have to look that up. It has been a while since my animal science class, and we talked about all of the by-products you can use. I will e-mail my advisor and get a post about it ASAP.

 

[fellersbarnoneranch]

Is the reason noone will repond to this question is because it is retarded? I know tomatos are toxic to cattle but I dont know about sunflower leaves and stalks

No. The question is fine, but I don't know the answer and don't wanna blow smoke up ....well-you know! Call to your vet would probably get your answer more quickly! Good luck. you might post what you find out--might help someone else!

 

[Dave]

Ensminger's "Stockman's Handbook" say that sunflowers are grown for silage but they are not a palatable nor as nutritious as corn or grass silage. It say that pound for pound they have 80 to 85% of the value of corn silage.
Dave

 

[treytex]

Thanks Dave

 

[Craig-TX]

If you could get your cows to eat mature sunflowers it would be great. The problem is that unless they are starving to death they won't touch them.

Craig-TX

 

[greatgerts]

Here is the info. from my professor on the subject: "sunflowers can be used as we do cottonseed to supply a little
extra
energy for reproduction or they can be a portion of the diet. One
merely
has to remember the volume of oil in the whole seed. Too much oil will
cause scouring."

 

[eric]

Is the reason noone will repond to this question is because it is retarded? I know tomatos are toxic to cattle but I dont know about sunflower leaves and stalks

Nah, I see retarded questions get answered all the time on these boards!! ;-)

 

[Dave]

I think there are at least as many retarted answers as there are retarted questions. Actually probably more.

Dave