To be a successful grass farmer, all of these components must be addressed. Optimal Pasture Height Optimal animal performance and pasture growth occurs when pasture is grazed before it is 6 inches tall. As any forage plant grows and matures, it becomes increasingly less nutritious and palatable. The fiber and lignin content of all forage plants increase as the plants mature. These compounds are poorly digested so the digestible energy content decreases as the plants mature.
Mature plants are coarse and tough to graze.
As a result, animals eat less. Total feed intake also is strongly influenced by the digestibility of the diet. The lower digestibility of mature forages results in lower feed intake by grazing animals. Growing pasture plants are composed of water, proteins and other nitrogen-containing compounds, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Dry matter from pasture 6 inches tall or less has the highest TDN content.