Grazing alfalfa requires top-notch management to ensure optimal stand persistence and animal performance. As with any high-value crop, greater economic return is generally achieved with a higher level of management. In this section, several strategies for achieving desired performance goals will be discussed. With the development of alfalfa cultivars selected specifically for grazing tolerance, some of the management emphasis on stand persistence is diminished, but persistence must remain a prime concern.
Several factors affect stand persistence in grazed alfalfa.
While some of these factors are similar to mechanically harvested fields, others are unique to grazing. As with alfalfa hay production, selecting well drained, naturally fertile fields will produce the best alfalfa grazing opportunities. Aside from the well-documented disease problems associated with wetter soils, the potential for stand damage through animal treading is greatly increased on soggy soils. Physical damage to both the roots and crowns may occur when stock graze alfalfa fields on saturated soils. In designing a grazing system, build in flexibility to allow removal of the animals to grass sodded paddocks when the alfalfa paddocks become too wet to graze.