pictures from the winter range

[leanin' H]

Do you have winterfat on your winter range?
That's a valuable forb (is it a forb?) for winter grazing.

No we don't all we have is sage, greasewood, forage kosha, and then abunch of grass that the blm has plant out there after the fire. I don't know what most of them are but the blm said they a native to the area.

It's my understanding (Which is not gospel) that Winterfat is the same thing as what we call white sage. It is pretty high in protien and cows do great on it. Cows that get the chance to be cows usually get by pretty well unless a major event happpens. There are cattle in country like Cure's permit that spend less than 2 weeks a year around people, i.e. branding and weaning, and have never had a mouthful of hay in thier life. Those are the type of cattle a lot of us pattern our herd after.

 

[Nicky]

I also thought that winterfat and white sage are the same thing...

 

[Faster horses]

I looked it up. It is the same thing. I didn't realize that.
I think it was in the Sweetwater country of Wyoming where I learned
how valuable it is as a winter feed.

Common Name(s):
Winterfat
White Sage

http://extension.usu.edu/range/Woody/winterfat.htm

And then this:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/nov/papr/wntrfat.html

The common name, Winterfat, refers to this plant's usage as an important winter forage plant for wildlife and livestock. Ceratoides means "like horns" and refers to the horny tips in the flowers that enclose the seeds. Lanata means "wooly" in reference to the hairy appearance of the branches, leaves and fruits. The family name Chenopodiaceae is derived from chenos meaning "goose" and pod meaning "foot" and refers to the shape of the leaves of some members of this family. This plant is also called white sage or winter sage.

 

[Northern Rancher]

I can't remember what browse was on Bryce Lee's ranch in southern Colorado but he said it was great winter feed. It would take a heck of a snow to bury it for sure. On an unrelated topic last night was first night it didn't freeze and I have two loads of cows to get out of here this A"M-not sure if we can get a tri in and out.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I looked it up. It is the same thing. I didn't realize that.
I think it was in the Sweetwater country of Wyoming where I learned
how valuable it is as a winter feed.

Common Name(s):
Winterfat
White Sage

http://extension.usu.edu/range/Woody/winterfat.htm

And then this:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/nov/papr/wntrfat.html

The common name, Winterfat, refers to this plant's usage as an important winter forage plant for wildlife and livestock. Ceratoides means "like horns" and refers to the horny tips in the flowers that enclose the seeds. Lanata means "wooly" in reference to the hairy appearance of the branches, leaves and fruits. The family name Chenopodiaceae is derived from chenos meaning "goose" and pod meaning "foot" and refers to the shape of the leaves of some members of this family. This plant is also called white sage or winter sage.

It also doesn't have the "Sage" smell.