How to Feed Comfrey to Livestock

Humans have been cultivating comfrey for centuries. A Latin word meaning "grow together," comfrey is valued for use as a medicinal herb for humans, although it can also be fed to a variety of livestock. Cattle, swine and chickens all enjoy comfrey and will readily consume it.

Things You'll Need

• Tarp
• Comfrey
• Burlap sacks

Instructions

1. Lay the tarp out on a flat surface and spread the comfrey over the tarp. Comfrey plants have small, hair-like needles at the top that many animals do not like to eat. However, when the stalks are dried the needles lose their coarse texture and become more palatable. Leave the comfrey to dry in a sunny spot for at least 24 hours.

2. Place the dried comfrey stalks in empty burlap sacks for storage. The burlap protects the plants and contains any plant matter broken off during transit to prevent waste. Keep the sacks in a dry feed room off the ground to reduce mold growth that might sicken your animals.

3. Replace up to one-quarter of the animals' normal hay ration if feeding to cattle and horses. Introduce the comfrey slowly, adding a few handfuls per day over the course of a week to prevent digestive upset. Comfrey is higher in protein than normal hay and can cause gas and diarrhea if added too quickly.

4. Substitute comfrey for sweet feed if feeding to swine. Comfrey is higher in protein and lower in sugar than sweet feed, which will add bulk to your hogs without excess calories from sugar. Crush the comfrey inside the burlap sack before pouring it into the feed pans to make it easier for the hogs to eat.

5. Toss a stalk or two inside the coop each day if feeding to chickens. Birds like to forage and will tear the leaves and flowers from the comfrey stalks as they eat. Chickens like green plants and will readily eat fresh comfrey if you run out of dried stalks.

Tips & Warnings

• Studies have shown comfrey to be high in pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause liver damage if fed in high doses. However, feeding comfrey in smaller qualities is safe for most livestock.

References

• Kerr Center: Comfrey
• Allotment Vegetable Growing: Comfrey the Wonder Plant!
• The Modern Homestead U.S.: Feeding the Flock from the Homestead's Own Resources: Part One