Why This Matters

Hay has become one of the most expensive inputs on small farms. Prices rise every year, droughts cut yields, and many of us end up depending on off-farm feed just to keep animals going through winter. For most farmers, this becomes a cycle of buying, storing, hauling, and worrying — and it eats into already thin margins.

But what if part of your forage system could be planted once, kept alive permanently, and regenerate itself every year with almost no work?

That’s the entire idea behind perennial forage shrubs.

These shrubs grow deep roots, stay green long after grass dries out, recover quickly after grazing, and require zero fertilizer, zero irrigation, and almost no maintenance once established. They aren’t meant to replace every square foot of pasture — but they can replace a huge portion of your hay bill and dramatically stabilize your feed supply during drought, heat waves, or poor pasture years.

This system works because you’re not forcing annual crops to act like perennials. Instead, you’re planting shrubs that evolved to survive stress, bounce back after browsing, and hold onto nutrition long into the fall and early winter. This gives you a dependable, resilient layer of forage without constantly reseeding, fertilizing, or irrigating.

If you’re trying to reduce feed costs, stretch your pasture farther, or create a more drought-resistant system for goats, cattle, sheep, or mixed herds — perennial forage shrubs are one of the simplest, lowest-effort solutions you can add.

Key Takeaways From the Video

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the video covers:

• Why perennial shrubs outperform grasses in drought and late summer

• How deep-rooted shrubs access water and nutrients without irrigation

• Species that can handle browsing pressure and keep producing

• How shrubs provide higher protein than hay at certain stages

• Why shrubs recover faster after grazing than traditional pasture

• How shrubs fit into small-acreage and regenerative systems

• Planting strategies for rows, hedgerows, alley grazing, and paddock edges

• Expected production timeline (year 1–3)

• How shrubs can reduce your hay use while increasing forage diversity

• Practical tips for getting started with small test strips

These shrubs aren’t magic. They won’t remove all of your feed needs. But they add a layer of resilience that can dramatically reduce the amount of hay you rely on — especially during the expensive months.

Species You Can Start With (Beginner Friendly)

(No download required — this is a simple starter list you can expand later.)

These species are commonly used on regenerative farms because they check the important boxes:
✔ handle browsing
✔ tolerate drought
✔ grow in poor soils
✔ produce reliable forage
✔ low maintenance once established

Best starter species:

• Willow (various types) — extremely drought tolerant, regrows after browsing

• Mulberry — highly nutritious leaves, long growing season

• Siberian Peashrub — nitrogen fixer + protein rich

• Hazelnut — good forage + nuts if unmanaged

• Autumn Olive (managed/invasive) — controversial but strong forage and nitrogen fixing in some systems

• Hybrid Poplar — fast growing, high biomass

You can establish these on any farm — even 1–5 acres — and start building a “forage reserve” that keeps producing for decades.

(If you want, I can later turn this list into a polished “mini one-page download” for lead capture, but it’s optional.)

How to Add Shrubs to Your Existing Pasture

Shrubs slot easily into whatever system you already have. You do not need a full redesign.

Here are simple placements that work for most farms:

• ✔ Fence lines & paddock edges

• Minimal disruption. Easy for animals to nibble without overbrowsing.

• ✔ Alley grazing (shrubs in rows)

• Rows spaced 10–20 ft apart; animals graze alleys, then graze shrubs lightly.

• ✔ Hedgerows as windbreaks

• Adds forage + creates cooler microclimates for summer grazing.

• ✔ Around loafing areas

• Shrubs survive heavy pressure better than grasses.

• ✔ On slopes or poor soils

• Shrubs outperform grasses in marginal spots.

• ✔ Sacrifice paddock improvement

• Use shrubs to rebuild high-traffic zones.

If your pasture dries up by July/August, shrubs keep producing — often when everything else has stopped.

Establishment Timeline (Year-by-Year)

Year 1:

• Plant the shrubs

• Water during establishment only (first 2 months)

• Light protection from goats/cattle if needed

• No harvest yet

Year 2:

• First light grazing allowed

• Shrubs start developing mass

• Needs less water than grasses

Year 3+:

• Full production

• No watering required

• Handles browsing pressure

• Produces forage when grasses slow down

Shrubs are the definition of “plant once, harvest for decades.”

Wildlife, Animal Compatibility & Protein Levels

Different species match different herds:

Goats:

✔ best browsers for shrubs
✔ highest utilization
✔ protein boost in late summer

Sheep:

✔ moderate browsing
✔ good supplemental forage

Cattle:

✔ lighter shrub use
✔ especially helpful in heat stress periods

Pigs:

✔ eat leaves + young branches
✔ excellent enrichment

Protein levels can hit 18–25%, which is significantly higher than typical hay cut late in the season.

FAQ

❓ Do shrubs really replace hay?

Not completely — but they can cut hay bills significantly and fill in the summer slump when pasture dries out.

❓ Do I need fertilizer?

No. Most shrubs are deep-rooted and thrive without added fertility.

❓ How much space do I need?

Even ¼ acre test strips can make a noticeable difference in forage diversity and drought resistance.

❓ What species work best in Zones 5–7?

Mulberry, willow, hybrid poplar, hazelnut, and Siberian peashrub are ideal.

❓ Will they take over my pasture?

Not if you graze them. Grazing pressure actually keeps shrubs manageable.