Forage Chicory

Chicory is a very special plant and is best described as an herb. Its taproot makes it drought resistant. Chicory is a perennial for grazing with protein levels of 18-22%. Because of its very high energy, chicory boosts milk production and is fantastic for fattening lambs and steers. University trials indicate an average daily gain on lambs of 0.66 lbs. It’s an excellent feed as well for goats and wildlife. Chicory can be a very valuable addition to most farms if managed properly. It will not be persistent if it doesn’t have at least a 25 day rest period between grazings. However, it really boosts first year production in new seedings of dryland pastures. It’s very high in mineral content, very high in digestibility, low in fiber and high in protein. Chicory gets blue flowers at maturity.