Browse: feeding tree and shrub leaves
Browse is the leaves, shoots and young twigs of trees and shrubs eaten by livestock. It provides green feed in dry and semi-arid regions when grass has dried up. Goats and sheep often eat more browse than cattle, while its feed value varies with the plant species and season.
How can browse help feed goats?
Browse can supply green feed after pasture dries up. For example, acacia or mulberry leaves gathered around the farm in late summer can contribute dry matter to a goat ration. Weigh the leaves before feeding so you know how much you are including in the daily mix.
How can HerdMobile help?
Enter the dry matter content of collected leaves and twigs in HerdMobile, then include them alongside stored feeds when calculating daily rations for your goats and sheep.
Questions from the farm
Does browse change through the year?
Browse quality changes with the season. Young leaves in spring and early summer usually contain more protein than later woody growth. Feed value also depends on the plant species and stage of growth.
Why weigh the leaves?
Weighing fresh leaves and knowing their dry-matter content tells you how much feed your animals receive. Fresh leaves contain plenty of water, which adds weight without adding nutrients.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
With HerdMobile, include the leaves and twigs you collect, using their dry-matter content, when you calculate goat and sheep rations alongside stored feeds.
