Étienne Sage, a 36-year-old farrier from Dorat in the Haute-Vienne department, has been experimenting with using tree leaves as a forage resource for his Limousin cattle, especially during the summer when grass becomes scarce. He manages a herd of 17 cows and their calves, seven heifers, and two males. To provide forage, Sage cuts branches from poplars and other tree species between 5 and 7 am when needed. This approach has allowed him to gain an extra fifteen days of forage this summer before the trees dried up. He feeds approximately 15 kg of poplar leaves per cow each day. Sage has planted nearly 2 km of hedges on his 68-hectare farm, which includes 57 hectares of permanent pasture and the rest in woodlands and groves. The hedges consist of a variety of tree species, such as white mulberry (Morus alba), birch, willow, oak, chestnut, alder, dogwood, blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, elder, maple, cherry, spindle, and others. He notes that white mulberry is drought-resistant but sensitive to freezing temperatures, while birch is useful at all stages of growth. Willow is grazed when necessary, and chestnuts help manage strongles, a type of parasitic worm, based on coprologies—analysis of animal dung—before and after foraging. The hedges on Sage’s farm serve multiple purposes, including acting as windbreaks and helping to retain moisture in the soil. In January, he planted 500 meters of a double hedge with the help of volunteers from the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). However, the hedge struggled during the summer due to drought and heatwaves. Sage emphasizes the importance of keeping deer away from his crops and prefers using electric fencing over plastic sheaths, which are less effective. In addition to forage, certain tree species can influence the nutritional and health aspects of livestock. For example, tannins found in some species like black locust may limit protein breakdown in the intestine but could impact the control of parasites. Sage mentions that species similar to alfalfa, a common forage plant, include white willow, Corsican alder, linden, and basket willow. Regarding minerals, Laurence Vigier from the Dordogne agricultural chamber noted that black walnut, elder, cherry, honeysuckle, and grenadine are rich in phosphorus. White mulberry and linden are high in calcium, while elder and fig are also good sources of magnesium. Several species, including white alder, basket willow, and field maple, are noted for their content of zinc and manganese.