Weeds: cattle prefer clean pasture and avoid contaminated area 72% of the time

A study conducted on farms in Missouri, United States, brought details of the impact of invasive plants on cattle grazing. The research, which lasted four months, revealed that cattle have a clear preference for weed-free pastures: the animals stayed 72% of the time in the clean pasture, even when there was no physical barrier between the treated and untreated areas. According to experts, the damages from invasive plants go far beyond the simple reduction of pasture productivity. They alter grazing behavior, cattle displacement, and forage utilization. The change in behavior was only noticed from the second month, when the herbicide began to effectively control the weeds in the treated area. The interference of the invasive plant in grazing is relevant and varies according to the species: The ...