Will Cows Eat Crepe Myrtle

Cows will eat crepe myrtle, but it’s not their first choice, and it should never be a staple of their diet.
 
If you’ve noticed your cattle nibbling on the low-hanging branches of your crepe myrtle trees, you might be wondering if this is normal behavior or a cause for concern.
 
The truth is, cows will eat crepe myrtle leaves and even small twigs if they’re curious, bored, or if their pasture is running low on other forage.
 
However, just because cows will eat crepe myrtle doesn’t mean it’s good for them, so let’s break down the risks, the realities, and what you should do if your cows are munching on these ornamental shrubs.
 
In this post, we’ll explore whether cows will eat crepe myrtle, why they might do it, what the potential dangers are, and how to manage your pasture to keep both your trees and your herd safe.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why Cows Will Eat Crepe Myrtle Trees and Shrubs

Cows will eat crepe myrtle primarily because they are opportunistic grazers, and when grass is scarce, they’ll sample almost anything green.
 
Crepe myrtle leaves are soft and relatively tender, especially on young shoots, which makes them easy for a cow to pull off and chew.
 
Boredom is another huge factor, as cattle that are confined to a small paddock with little environmental enrichment will often start tasting nearby vegetation, including crepe myrtle bushes.
 
It’s also worth noting that cows will eat crepe myrtle more readily if the leaves have fallen to the ground after a storm or pruning session.
 

1. The Palatability Factor

Cows will eat crepe myrtle leaves because they don’t have a strong bitter taste that deters them like some other ornamental plants do.
 
Young crepe myrtle leaves are mild in flavor, which means a hungry cow won’t immediately turn its nose up at them.
 
However, mature crepe myrtle leaves are a bit tougher and less appealing, so you’ll mostly see cows targeting the fresh growth near the bottom of the tree.
 

2. Nutritional Value is Minimal

While cows will eat crepe myrtle when they’re hungry, this plant offers very little in terms of nutritional value for a ruminant animal.
 
Crepe myrtle leaves are mostly water and fiber, with very low protein content and almost no energy value compared to good pasture grass or hay.
 
Cows that fill up on crepe myrtle leaves may actually lose condition over time because they’re eating a lot of bulk without getting the calories they need.
 

3. It’s Not Poisonous, But Not Ideal

Here’s the good news: cows will eat crepe myrtle without suffering from acute toxicity, as the plant is not listed as poisonous to cattle by veterinary sources.
 
The ASPCA does not list crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) as toxic to animals, and the same applies to cattle.
 
So cows will eat crepe myrtle and likely not drop dead, but that doesn’t mean you should let them make a meal of it regularly.
 

Potential Risks of Cows Eating Crepe Myrtle

Even though cows will eat crepe myrtle without fatal consequences, there are some real risks you need to be aware of.
 

1. Digestive Upset and Bloat

Cows will eat crepe myrtle leaves, and because these leaves are not part of their natural diet, they can cause digestive disturbances.
 
The high fiber content combined with unfamiliar plant compounds can lead to mild indigestion, diarrhea, or even bloat in sensitive cattle.
 
If a cow eats a large amount of crepe myrtle at once, especially after not eating much forage, it could experience a buildup of gas that leads to discomfort.
 

2. Damage to the Crepe Myrtle Trees

The bigger concern is often not the cow, but the tree, because cows will eat crepe myrtle branches down to the bark and can strip it completely.
 
When cows eat crepe myrtle bark, they can girdle the tree, which cuts off the flow of water and nutrients between the roots and the canopy.
 
Once a crepe myrtle is girdled, it will likely die, so you need to protect your ornamental trees if you have cattle in the same area.
 

3. Choking Hazard from Twigs and Stems

Cows will eat crepe myrtle including the small twigs, and those woody pieces can be a choking hazard.
 
While cattle are generally good at chewing and swallowing, sharp or dry twigs can get lodged in the throat or esophagus.
 
This is rare but it can happen, especially with younger calves that are more likely to play and chew on random things.
 

How to Keep Cows From Eating Crepe Myrtle

If you’ve discovered that cows will eat crepe myrtle on your property, you’re probably looking for ways to stop them.
 
The best approach is to physically separate the cattle from the crepe myrtle trees.
 

1. Use Fencing Around Trees

The most reliable way to prevent cows from eating crepe myrtle is to install a simple fence around each tree trunk.
 
A basic wire cage or a few posts with welded wire fencing will keep cows at bay while still allowing the tree to get sunlight and rain.
 
Make sure the fence is at least four feet high, because cows will reach over a fence if it’s too low.
 

2. Provide Plenty of Quality Forage

Cows will eat crepe myrtle less often if they have a constant supply of their preferred food, which is, of course, grass.
 
Ensure your pasture is well-managed, rotationally grazed, and has enough protein-rich forage to keep your herd satisfied.
 
If your cows are not hungry, they are far less likely to go looking for something new to eat.
 

3. Prune Lower Branches

Cows will eat crepe myrtle that is within their reach, so you can simply prune away any branches below four feet off the ground.
 
By lifting the canopy of the tree, you remove the leaves and stems that are accessible to grazing cattle.
 
This is a low-cost solution that works well in yards where cattle are only present temporarily.
 

4. Use Deterrent Sprays

You can also apply a commercial livestock deterrent spray to the crepe myrtle leaves, which is designed to taste extremely bitter to cattle.
 
Once a cow takes a bite and gets the bad taste, it will typically avoid that plant from then on.
 
Just be aware that rainfall will wash the spray off, so you’ll need to reapply it after heavy storms if you want to keep using this method.
 

So, Will Cows Eat Crepe Myrtle?

Cows will eat crepe myrtle, but it’s not something you should encourage or ignore.
 
Cows will eat crepe myrtle leaves and stems when they are hungry, bored, or just curious, and while the plant isn’t toxic, it does come with risks like digestive upset and tree damage.
 
The good news is that with proper fencing, good pasture management, and a few deterrent strategies, you can easily keep your cattle away from your crepe myrtle trees.
 
So if you’ve been worried about your cows coexisting with your crepe myrtles, rest easy knowing that you now have a clear plan to protect both your livestock and your landscaping.
 
Keep your cows well-fed, your fences sturdy, and your crepe myrtles pruned, and you won’t have to deal with this issue again.