permaculture

[FranksFarm@aol.com]

hi,

Mark wrote:

<<I ran into Dr. Dave Combs, one of our top dairy nutritionists at UW, in the 
mail room and asked about BL toxicity issues.  He stated that though there 
are very occasional poisonings of cattle by BL it only happens when there 
is no other feed for them. Apparently they will avoid eating it if given 
other choices.>>

Makes sense to me. Seems to me that cattle are highly selective of what they 
will eat, and even when. I know my cattle are pretty selective. For example I 
have quite a few black cherry trees on my pastures. I am aware from readings 
that black cherry leaves that dry up, and are eaten by cattle could poison 
them fast. I believe it's the concentration of toxins{cyanomides?) in the 
leaves that causes death.

In my 3 years with cattle none have died from such, and a number of limbs 
have been downed in storms. Am I just lucky or what? I was almost going to 
cut down all the black cherry trees!

Recently someone else told me that he had heard new findings that these 
stories were over exaggerated, and that death was unlikely. 

So folks what's the real scoop!    Frank