Who Eats Willow Leaves with Appetite?

In Judaism, the willow plant is considered to lack both taste and scent. Despite this, animals might see it as a quality food source and a remedy for certain ailments.

Why do animals enjoy eating willow leaves?

In a collaborative study between Hussein Muklada, a water engineer at the Volcani Institute, and Ramat Hanadiv, we discovered that willow leaves contain about 20% protein on average, making them a wealthy nutritional resource. For comparison, alfalfa, which is known as an excellent forage plant for livestock, contains only about 15% protein.

Not only a rich food source

Willow is not only rich in protein for animals but also contains secondary compounds with medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory agents, fever reducers, and pain relievers. These compounds survive the digestive process. In goat’s milk that fed on willow, we found natural anti-inflammatory substances and the bacteria count in their milk was very low. Additionally, a study was conducted to see which minerals are absorbed by willow when irrigated with treated wastewater. One discovery was that aluminum, sometimes present in the soil, did not reach the leaves. While copper was found in the roots, the amount absorbed by the leaves, the primary part consumed by the animals, was within a safe range. On the one hand, minerals are essential for willow growth, but on the other hand, they are not harmful to the animals’ health. It means willows could be irrigated with treated wastewater instead of fresh water.

(Image credit: Wikipedia)