A basic goal of grazing management is to harvest as much solar energy per unit area as possible to maximize the production of quality livestock feed. Grass leaves are typically vertical or steeply inclined, allowing sunlight to penetrate deep into the canopy. A lot of the sunlight reaches the soil and the food production potential of that sunlight is wasted. By adding legumes with more horizontal leaves or grasses with softer leaves, more solar energy is trapped. Production distribution is improved because different species have different growth requirements.
Some plants grow better at one time of the year than others.
Through diversification, a pasture is more likely to have some plant green and growing, producing quality livestock feed more days of the year. Weed Control Weeds are almost always a symptom of inappropriate fertility or grazing management. Weeds do not crowd out pasture plants. The pasture plants are thinned, either through low fertility or improper grazing, and weeds take their place. A healthy, densely growing, vigorous pasture is the best weed control strategy available.