West Central Alberta Coldest, wettest edge | I know an intensive grazer who claims that dandelions are the best pasture, due to all of the P that they contain which cows need for rebreeding. Not sure if it was a justification after the fact, or good planning though. It is noteworthy that his career as a farmer was also short lived.
It makes sense, if they can scrounge P, and break compaction. Maybe they can be the tillage radish equivalent for our short season?
Dandelions do have an amazing tap root and root system, in our hard packed clay ground after many years of pasture or hay, there are places where only dandelions will survive, they can push right through all the compaction, and cows like them just fine. There are more acres of unimproved pasture and old hay stands than anything else in this part of the world, so it looks yellow everywhere, crops of dandelions are a part of life around here, resistance is futile. even on a newer hay stand, first comes the dandelions, then the hay grows after they've had their first bloom. |
New respect for dandelion
