We'd Eat It! Projects

Information and Training for Turning Livestock into Land Management Tools

2008 Projects

Vandenberg Airforce Base - Black mustard
A spring 2008 project working with VAFB's permittee. I focused on making sure staff have the skills necessary to train others how to train cows.

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Stay Tuned for Pictures!

Madison Valley Ranchlands Group Weed Committee, Montana - Spotted knapweed and Canada thistle
A 2008 project working with cows, bison and a very proactive group of ranchers.

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We're doing some groundbreaking work here! Check back in August when I'll be able to tell you more about:

Training 110 pairs all at the same time at Jumping Horse Ranch near Ennis; and
Working with bison at Ted Turner's Snowcrest Ranch.
Helping 3 other ranches in the Ennis and Sheridan, Montana area train a total of 50 animals.

Boulder County Parks and Open Space - Late-season diffuse knapweed
Cows eat it when it's bolting, but not when its in bud or blossom. So this 2007 project expanded the time for effectively grazing to control the weed. In 2008 we'll watch as cows train their calves and a group of untrained animals. Then we'll do a 3-day speed training to teach the whole group to eat dalmation toadflax.

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Diffuse Knapweed before grazing	Diffuse Knapweed after grazing

Past Projects

Marin County, California - Distaff thistle, Italian thistle, Milk thistle
The steps were refined in 2006 and 2007 as part of this multi-year project.

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There were about 1000 distaff plants in this pasture when cows began work	Here are the bitten off stems of distaff after grazing.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site - Canada thistle, leafy spurge and spotted knapweed
This is where I figured out the basic steps for turning cows into weed managers in 2004 and 2005.

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Leafy Spurge before 2005 grazing	Leafy spurge after 2005 grazing