Forage is what grazing animals eat straight from the ground: grass, clover, alfalfa, and other herbaceous plants. It is the cheapest feed a farmer can provide, and for ruminants like cattle and sheep, it is also the most natural.

Pasture management is a skill in itself. Put too many animals on a paddock and they will eat it down to bare soil, inviting weeds and erosion. Move them too soon and they leave good feed behind. Rotational grazing, where herds are shifted between fenced paddocks every few days, mimics the pattern of wild herds and gives plants time to regrow.

Key forage crops

• Perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for cool climates
• Bermuda grass and bahiagrass for warm regions
• Alfalfa and clover for high protein
• Native range plants for arid rangelands

Forage quality falls as plants mature and set seed. Farmers time grazing or cutting to catch the crop at its most nutritious stage, usually just before flowering.