When livestock producers ask “what is forage?” the simple answer is this: forage is the edible plant material such as grasses, legumes, and other herbaceous plants that grazing animals depend on for nutrition. For an agronomist, forage is much more than plants in the pasture. It is the foundation of herd health, livestock performance, and long-term land productivity.
At The Mill, we know that successful forage management begins with proper pasture preparation. Whether you are feeding beef cattle, dairy cows, horses, sheep, or goats, your animals rely on forage quality and availability to thrive.
Why Forage Matters for Livestock
Forage serves as the primary feed source for many types of livestock:
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Beef and Dairy Cattle: Depend on nutrient dense forage to support growth, reproduction, and milk production. Energy density, crude protein content, and digestibility directly affect herd performance.
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Horses: Require high quality forage as the cornerstone of a balanced diet that supports digestive health and performance. Horses are particularly sensitive to forage maturity and fiber levels, making timely harvest or grazing management essential.
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Sheep and Goats: Thrive on diverse forage mixes that provide both nutrition and grazing variety. Small ruminants are efficient at utilizing legumes, browse, and mixed swards that extend grazing seasons.
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Pastured Poultry and Other Grazers: Benefit from access to well managed forage which reduces feed costs and promotes natural behaviors. Though not primary grazers, poultry can still benefit from forages that provide micronutrients and improve paddock health.
High quality forage not only feeds your animals but also improves weight gains, milk yields, and overall health. Poorly managed pastures can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weed invasion, and reduced carrying capacity.
Steps for Forage and Pasture Preparation
1. Soil Testing and Fertility Management
Healthy forage begins with balanced soil chemistry. A comprehensive soil test provides information on pH, macronutrients such as phosphorus and potassium, and secondary nutrients such as sulfur and magnesium. Adjusting soil pH with lime is critical for legume persistence and nutrient availability. Fertilizer programs should be customized to the crop species and expected grazing pressure to ensure both establishment and long-term stand vigor.
2. Choosing the Right Forage Species
Not all forage species perform equally across soil types, grazing systems, or livestock needs. Matching species to the farm environment is the foundation of a productive stand.
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Cool season grasses such as orchardgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass provide high quality forage in spring and fall. Endophyte-free or novel endophyte tall fescue varieties offer persistence without animal health concerns.
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Legumes such as clover and alfalfa increase forage protein content and fix nitrogen, reducing fertilizer inputs. Legume inclusion also improves forage digestibility and seasonal yield distribution.
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Warm season forages such as sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, and millet fill the summer production gap and respond well to intensive grazing systems.
3. Seedbed Preparation and Planting
Establishment success depends on proper seed-to-soil contact. A firm, level seedbed ensures uniform germination and reduces competition from weeds. No till seeding preserves soil structure and moisture, while frost seeding legumes can improve existing stands with minimal tillage. Seeding rates should be adjusted for species, planting method, and soil conditions to maximize stand density.
4. Weed and Pest Management
Weeds not only compete for nutrients and water but also reduce forage quality and palatability. An integrated approach combines chemical control, timely mowing, and grazing pressure management. Certain pasture pests such as armyworms or grasshoppers can devastate stands, so regular scouting and early intervention are critical.
5. Establishing a Grazing Plan
Pasture productivity is as dependent on management as it is on seed choice. Overgrazing depletes root reserves and reduces stand life. Rotational grazing improves regrowth, distributes manure more evenly, and maximizes forage utilization. Stocking density, rest periods, and residual height targets should be adjusted seasonally based on growth rates.
Forage: The Foundation of Livestock Success
So, what is forage? It is more than plants in a pasture. It is the most cost effective and sustainable source of nutrition for livestock. Investing in proper pasture preparation results in high quality forage that supports animal performance and land health for years to come.
The Mill carries a complete line of forage seed, pasture preparation tools, fertilizers, and weed control products. Our agronomy team provides custom recommendations backed by local trial data to help you achieve the best results for your operation.
