Willow as Fodder

Many willow species have similar nutritional value to grass and are highly digestible to browsing animals such as sheep, horses and cattle. Salix Viminalis x Schwerinii DRH Brown ,Chinese willow / Salix Miyabeana and Q83- Salix Triandra x Viminalis are particularly well-suited to fodder systems.

Willow can be grown in three primary ways to provide browse:

• Dedicated Browse Blocks – Animals are granted direct access to blocks of willow on a rotation with other pasture / crops or
• Hedgerows around a paddock for the animals to browse at will or
• Pollarded Trees above browsing height where branches are  peroidically trimmed and feed to stock as required.

Different approaches will work better for different animals and species of willow, ground conditions , and overall management goals.

Willow can even be preserved as a form of silage, although this requires specialised harvesting equipment.

Browse blocks

Browse blocks are especially effective for sheep and can be a valuable use of otherwise unproductive or waterlogged land. First, the area is heavily grazed to reduce competing vegetation. Then willow cuttings are planted late winter / early spring at moderate density of 1m spacing between cuttings. They will shoot in the spring and sheep / grazers can be allowed into the block once the shoots have reached around 2 -3 foot in length.

Once around half of the new shoots are consumed, livestock are removed to allow regrowth before repeating the cycle. This method can be continued throughout the summer.

Hedgerows

Here a hedgerow of willow is planted up alongside a paddock or field. Standard stock fencing should be used to protect the new hedgerow. Growth that is reachable to the browser will be consumed. There is some evidence that suggests that horses and cattle will seek out willow to self medicate. Aside from nutritional benefits, a willow hedgerow also provides an effective windbreak and ecological diversity.

Silvopasture (Pollarded Trees)

For a silvopasture system, willow stakes of around 8ft in length are planted at intervals designed for convenient pasture management (e.g., allowing space for tractors or toppers). On wetter land, planting more densely can help soak up excess water, improving ground conditions for farm machinery.

The willow trees are allowed to establish with most growth being above browsing height. The trees provide good shade in summer and a degree of shelter throughout the year. Once established, they can be pollarded, cutting back branches to the main trunk. The trimmed branches may be left on the ground for immediate browsing or taken elsewhere to feed livestock. Leaves and stems are both edible, although the stem diameter that different animals will eat  readily varies (cattle will eat stems up to about 4 cm in diameter, while sheep and horses typically prefer thinner stems of about 1 cm). Willow pollarding is done on a 2–3-year rotation.

Benefits and Considerations

Regardless of the system employed, willow offers a valuable forage supplement with higher levels of micronutrients and minerals than grass alone. Its robust growth habit, ease of propagation, and adaptability to various soils—particularly damp conditions—make willow an appealing choice for sustainable, low-input fodder production. By diversifying livestock feed with willow, you can enhance both the health of your animals and the resilience of your overall farming system.