59 Things Cows Can Eat and 31 They Cannot
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Quick: what do cows eat? If you said grass, you’re quite right, but these big herbivorous bovines eat lots of other plant-based food besides.
Various other kinds of forage, even fruits and veggies, and some things you wouldn’t expect. It turns out that cows can eat a surprisingly varied diet!
But you shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that if something is plant-based it’s safe for cows. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some things, including common and seemingly nutritious foods, can make cows really sick or potentially even kill them!
To make sure that doesn’t happen, you need to brush up on what foods cows can, and cannot, eat. Check out the lists below to find out more.
Cows can eat most of the common fruits and veggies that we do in limited quantities, along with various other kinds of grasses, grains, forbs, and more.
As I said above, not all plant matter is good for cows, including some pretty surprising things that are otherwise healthy veggies to us. Besides that, there are non-plant foods that cows should never get, despite what you see in viral videos.
Yes, but only in small quantities occasionally. Acorns have tannins which are toxic in higher concentrations, and can damage their digestive system and kidneys. Never let your cows eat as many as they want!
It’s best if they avoid them. Although nominally digestible, almonds have a tendency to cause digestive upset and digestive tract blockages, and are an occasional choking hazard. Not worth the trouble!
Yes, they sure can! This peppery lettuce is highly nutritious and a great addition to the usual diet of your herd.
No, they cannot. Avocado skins, seeds, and all other parts of the plant contain persin, a dangerous toxin that causes cardiac arrest and respiratory collapse. The flesh either contains no or only trace amounts, but it’s just not worth the risk.
Yes, but only if they are soaked and cooked first! Raw beans contain dangerous proteins which will cause massive digestive upset and illness, and red beans tend to be the worst of all. Never, ever give cows raw beans!
Absolutely. Cilantro is packed with healthy vitamins, minerals, and beneficial antioxidants. Cows can eat it wherever it grows, or you can harvest it and feed it to them. Note that it’s only a supplementary part of their diet, not a mainstay.
Yes, definitely. Clover is a common forage item for cows, and they’ll usually eat it right alongside grass wherever they find it growing. It’s an important source of minerals and protein.
As adults, no. A cow’s digestive system is only adapted to process milk when they are calves. Once they are adults, no more milk and definitely no cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and so forth.
Sure. All parts of a daisy are harmless to cows, but I should point out that they are not a great source of nutrition. These are an incidental food only when they are foraging.
Yes, but rarely and only as a treat. Dates are very sugary, and too much sugar or other carbohydrates can disrupt a cow’s rumen and cause bloat or other major problems.
Definitely not. Dog food is for dogs, not cows, and more importantly, it has lots of animal protein that cows cannot digest. Never give them dog food!
Yes, but only the mature, ripe fruit itself, and no green part of the plant, including the little green crown on the fruit. The green parts of the plant contain solanine which is harmful to cows.
No. Some true ferns are safe for cows, but many more are toxic, and many plants which have the word fern in the common name are also toxic. Avoid them as a matter of course!
Yes, but sparingly and only as an occasional treat. Like many fruits, figs contain too much concentrated sugar to be good for cows on a regular basis.
No way! Foxtail will stick in the mouth or throat of a cow, and if they do manage to swallow it, it can cause impaction. This is a significant hazard; make sure you remove it from all pastures.
No! French fries are really fatty, oily, and salty, not to mention starchy, four things that are bound to cause apocalyptic stomach troubles for cows.
No. Garlic is an allium genus veggie, like onions. Though it is nutritious, the compounds it has can eventually result in hemolytic anemia in ruminant animals. Some cows don’t seem affected by small amounts, but it’s best to avoid taking a chance.
Only in small amounts to avoid harm. Goat feed is nutritionally balanced for goats, and may contain too much copper to be good for cows. You don’t need to worry if cows get a few bites, but you should never feed it to them deliberately.
Yes, some of them. Pumpkins and squashes are safe for cows to eat in moderation as a nutritious part of a well-rounded diet. They are good sources of various vitamins and fiber.
Yes, in moderation. Cows really seem to enjoy grape vines and they are nutritious, but like acorns they are also high in tannins which can be toxic. Do not let cows free-eat from grape vines to avoid poisoning.
Yes, but only if they are fresh and have not been treated with any sorts of herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals. Also, limit quantities to minimize bloat risk.
Of course, they can! Grass is a staple food for cows, and they eat all kinds and varieties wherever it is growing.
Yes, but only ripe fruit and no other part of the plant. Another member of the nightshade family, unripe peppers, and all other parts of the plant contain toxic solanine.
No, they shouldn’t. Cows can have just a few licks of honey as a very rare treat without harm, but it is intensely sugary and the enzymes it contains can disrupt the microbiome in the rumen.
Only in small amounts without risking illness. Like goat feed, horse feed is nutritionally optimized for horses. Though it does not contain anything overtly harmful to cows, prolonged ingestion will cause sickness.
No! Adult cows shouldn’t have dairy products anyway as discussed, but ice cream is overloaded with sugar and fat which will severely upset a cow’s stomach.
No, it isn’t a good idea. Some types of ivy are safe for cows, but many more are toxic or prone to causing indigestion. I recommend you avoid feeding or letting your cows eat ivy.
Yes, in small amounts every once in a while as a treat. Like all fruits, it is too sugary for them to eat regularly.
No way, Jose! Though nutritious, the intense spiciness of jalapenos will hurt and panic cows, and cause intense indigestion and diarrhea. Don’t do it, not even as a joke!
Yes, but in limited quantities. Though very nutritious with lots of great vitamins, minerals, and protein, kale is high in oxalic acid which can cause urinary calculi and potentially kidney harm if cows get too much over time.
Surprisingly enough, yes! Kelp is a great source of minerals, especially iodine, which is beneficial to cows and also easily digestible as long as they have it in moderation.
Yes, they sure can. This tropical treat is a pleasant surprise for cows, but like all fruits, it is not a major part of their diet. Feed occasionally in small quantities.
Yes. This highly aromatic herb is nutritious and cows can eat it wherever they find it growing, or you can harvest it and feed it to them fresh. It is not a major part of their diet, though.
Yes, from most plants. Cows seem to enjoy nibbling on Maple leaves, for instance, but they should not eat oak leaves because they can quickly become toxic. This must be assessed on a plant-by-plant basis.
Yes! This fresh, bracing herb is safe for cows to eat in smaller quantities when they find it growing fresh. Too much can cause stomach upset, though this is rarely serious. Take care to manage it on your property because it spreads voraciously!
Yes, they can, but they won’t derive hardly any nutrition from it.
Only mushrooms that are known to be safe! It is strongly advised that you eliminate all wild mushrooms just in case they are toxic! Even a single poisonous mushroom might kill a cow.
Generally not, with few exceptions like acorns. Nuts can be surprisingly challenging for cows to digest, and there’s always a risk of them getting caught in their throat. Again, you are wise to withhold these.
Yes, definitely! And they love them! Oats are highly nutritious and a wonderful source of protein, minerals, and energy. Just go easy on the quantity because too many grains can cause bloat in cows and other ruminant animals.
No. Onions, like garlic and other allium genus veggies, contain sulfide compounds which can cause hemolytic anemia and other major problems for cows. Though a contentious one, it’s best to avoid the risk.
Definitely. Orchard Grass is another common forage item for cows and a good nutritional source all around that they can easily digest.
No! Cows love getting a spoonful of peanut butter every now and then, but it has way too much protein, fat, sugar, and salt. It is bound to cause digestive upset.
No way! Cucumbers are safe for cows, but pickles are a salt overload, and the vinegar isn’t going to help anything. Never give your cows pickles.
No, they shouldn’t. A few pine needles shouldn’t trouble them, but the volatile compounds in pine needles tend to cause various health issues, including abortion or birth defects in pregnant cows.
No! Poison ivy is definitely one of those ivy varieties that they should avoid at all costs. The nasty sap in this stuff will cause rashes and internal injury.
Yes, surprisingly enough! Plain, popped popcorn is a safe, fun, and occasional treat for cows. Make sure it has no salt, butter, or other seasonings, and never give them unpopped kernels.
Yes, they can. Queen Anne’s lace is just a wild carrot, and cows will love the nutritious greenery. The raw root will be difficult for them to digest, though.
Yes, but only in very, very limited quantities. Raisins are highly concentrated sources of sugar even though they are natural, and sugar overload will likely cause rumen problems as we have learned.
Yes, they sure can. Raspberries make a great occasional treat for cows, and they can also eat the leaves off of the live plant.
No! As we’ve already covered, cows cannot digest animal proteins. Raw eggs certainly fit that category, and worse than that are likely to transmit diseases like salmonella which can potentially be passed off to people. Never, ever give your cows eggs of any kind, raw or not!
Yes, in small amounts as a supplement to their usual diet of forage. However, the intensely aromatic and volatile oils in rosemary that give it its characteristic scent and flavor can give cows an upset stomach if they get too much.
Yes, but specifically the blooms, buds, hips, and leaves. The stems should be avoided.
Yes, they can. Various squashes in moderation are a great supplement to a cow’s diet, containing good amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Yes, but it isn’t very nutritious. It won’t hurt them, but cows will not get much energy or anything else from it like they will from hay.
Yes, they can, but again in very limited quantities. Sunflower seeds are phenomenally nutritious, but they are concentrated sources of protein and fats. Too many will cause issues for cows.
Yes, definitely, though some turnips will be too big for cows to eat easily when whole. Turnips are still a great source of vitamin A and fiber.
Tim is a farm boy with vast experience on homesteads, and with survival and prepping. He lives a self-reliant lifestyle along with his aging mother in a quiet and very conservative little town in Ohio. He teaches folks about security, prepping and self-sufficiency not just through his witty writing, but also in person.
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