Efficient use of pastures, however, requires very careful planning and good management of both animals and forage crops. The use of some type of rotational grazing is essential to control plant growth and furnish animals with the amount and quality of forage necessary to meet their nutritional requirements. This system uses a number of small pastures and thus requires careful planning for water and fencing. Short-duration grazing is the most effective way to maximize animal performance and animal product per acre, particularly when used for milk cows. There are several advantages to growing grass-legume mixtures in pastures.
Legumes fix nitrogen, which can be used by the grass.
This offsets the need for yearly topdressing of grass with nitrogen. Mixtures are also more productive during midsummer and have a higher nutritional value than grass alone. A grass-legume mixture is also better for pastures than a pure legume. The grass adds protection against bloat, fills in spots where the legume will not grow, and increases longevity and production of the pasture. The selection and use of forage species for pasture depend primarily on the soil characteristics of the site, particularly pH and drainage, and the type of grazing system employed.