Introduction
Cattle are raised worldwide; even yaks count as cattle and live in some of the coldest places. In many regions, cattle come in contact with cacti. About 100 years ago, some proposed that spineless Opuntia (O. ficus-indica) could replace most fodder and allow cattle to thrive in areas with very little rain.
The Details
The scheme promised to make ranchers wealthy, but it didn’t work. The cacti weren’t very nutritious, and they were too cold-sensitive in most parts of the United States. Luther Burbank promoted the idea, but it never panned out. Still, even today, cattle sometimes munch on cacti. You have to wonder how they handle the spines and the glochids.
Additional Reading: Prickly Pear as Food for Cattle
Man made vs. Natures’ fence, Carol-Von Canon
Ox cart with firewood, Lon and Queta
Chow with a bite of cholla, Lon and Queta
Brown cow in Baja del Sur, Mexico, Wonderlane
