The Grass Doctor

Why is Bluestem always mentioned in ranch sales, when cattle won't eat it.?

Buffalo and natural herds eat Bluestem. I tried some and the stalk has a lemony taste. May I add it to salads? The grass-head has a soapy smell. Anyone make use of this?

Public Comments

1. I wouldn't recommend eating it because humans lack the correct enzymes to break down grasses.
2. It is nontoxic. Humans cannot break down any cellulose directly, yet we need not eliminate plants from our diet!
3. blue-stem grasses were originally used before grains became subsidized by the government as a cheaper way to feed cattle for shipping to stockyards.it was and still is used for dairy cattle to keep weight on them.blue-stem pastures are usually used from may 1 or when the grasses start their spring growth and goes to september depending on the condition of the pasture or weather patterns.the problem with blue-stem is it is a slow growing cold weather grass and needs time to recuperate before the next grazing season starts so pasture rotation is a must to preserve the grassland.there is a rule of thumb when pasturing on these grasses goes two to four acres for a mature cow to preserve stability in the area for a six month season.by rotating pasture between cattle,horses and goats you can keep a cleaner pasture that is better ecologically sound while keeping natural wildlife habitats.unless you are a cow,bison,yak or other ruminant the grass is not good for you to eat. sorry for the long winded education on grass pasture management but i live in the prairie so i have to balance the environment with production.