January 17, 2025

Wildflowers shouldn’t be dismissed as unwanted weeds, says Kevin Sedivec, a rangeland management specialist with North Dakota State University. Instead, forbs — including wildflowers such as milkweed and stiff sunflower — play a crucial role in improving rangeland resilience, supporting pollinators and enhancing cattle nutrition.
Although controlling noxious weeds such as leafy spurge is necessary, Sedivec emphasizes that native wildflowers and forbs offer significant benefits. He describes diverse rangelands, rich with both grasses and forbs, as the “gold standard” for plant health.
Increase diversity
Specifically, increased plant diversity provides essential pollinator habitat above ground and enhances soil microbial activity below ground through varied root systems. Moreover, wildflowers are nutrient powerhouses for livestock, offering high levels of trace minerals that grasses often lack.
Sedivec and fellow researchers conducted studies in North and South Dakota from 2021 to 2023, measuring the nutritional value of over a dozen common forb species including black samson, stiff sunflower, stiff goldenrod and milkweed.
Results showed that 75% of the forbs sampled meet the crude protein requirements for lactating cows, especially from the vegetative to flowering stage. As an example, milkweed provides an impressive 22% crude protein, comparable with alfalfa.

RESILENT RANGELAND: Kevin Sedevic, a rangeland management specialist with North Dakota State University, discusses the importance of plant diversity. (Kindra Gordon)
Additionally, most of the forbs tested provided the minimum mineral requirements for calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium for a 1,400-pound lactating cow. Interestingly, some forbs met the minimum requirements for copper, which is rare in grasses, Sedivec says. He also points out that most forbs met the minimum requirements for phosphorus late in the grazing season, which usually does not occur in grasses.
Sedivec acknowledges that sometimes livestock owners will express concerns that milkweed is toxic. But he reassures producers that cows would need to consume large amounts for toxicity to occur. In diverse rangeland diets, this isn’t an issue. “I’ve never lost a cow to milkweed,” Sedivec notes.
Increase range resiliency
For landowners who want to strive for healthy grasslands, Sedivec suggests wildflower forbs should comprise about 15% to 25% of the plant composition by weight. If a pasture lacks forbs or shows signs of bare soil, it’s a warning sign of poor rangeland health caused by management practices.
“If you look at a pasture and see primarily grass and no flowers, or there is a lot of bare soil, something in management has created this,” he says.
To promote wildflower diversity, Sedivec recommends grazing strategies that consider timing, deferment and plant recovery. Controlled rotational grazing and patch-burn grazing are primary practices that may help restore forb populations, making the land more resilient.
Ultimately, Sedivec points out the takeaway for producers: Diverse pastures are healthier pastures. Instead of spraying native wildflowers, unless they’re noxious weeds, consider fostering wildflower diversity.
You’re investing in your cattle’s health, your soil and the long-term sustainability of your rangeland, he concludes.
About the Author
You May Also Like