From Trees for Graziers:
Some trees produce fruit, nuts and seed pods which provide an excellent source of food during times of year when pasture forages have dwindled. When including any species to achieve this goal you will want to observe individual tree growth habits to accurately assess when to allow access to those areas. Some fodder, like honey locust pods, can last for a couple months on the ground, while others like apples and persimmons can rot quickly. Drop timing differs between tree species, but harvest will differ with the growing zone, microclimate, weather, soil conditions, variety genetics and even the individual tree itself. Again, careful observation and interaction of the land manager will be necessary to truly understand your system.
Tree fodder is not an extensively researched or practiced agricultural topic here in North America, though it has old historic roots in most cultures. While most native and non-native temperate tree leaves clearly have some feed value, and many clearly have high feed value, there is seasonal variation to nutrition and the benefit of tree
leaves may be more as a nutritional or medicinal supplement rather than a main forage for your
animals. A safe way to introduce new feed is always in moderation and while your animals have
access to feeds they know and readily consume. Providing a diversity of forages will
allow animals to balance their nutrition well on their own without you having to know every detail
about every forage. Poisoning is often more of a management issue when livestock are forced
to overeat on a new or toxic food due to the lack of availability of normal forages, this is again
where good grazing management and timely movement are key.
Coppice and/or pollard are both methods of long-term management for intentional
woody stem reproduction. The difference between the two is simply described as: coppice
systems are cut at ground level, while pollard systems are cut at or above animal browse height.
The practices are ancient and found around the world almost anywhere woodland cultures exist.
Establishment should happen when the tree is young and developing to ensure long-term
survival and production. Once a callus forms from the initial cut(s), stems resprout and can then
be managed and harvested when they reach your desired diameter. These would be harvested
on multi-annual timed cycles. The use of either method could be for the sustainable production
of firewood, fence posts, leaf fodder, tree hay, pole wood, craft material and any other uses you
can think of where wood, leaves or stems are needed!
