Grazing is allowing livestock to directly consume the growing forage; grasses, legumes, and forbs, in a pasture or rangeland. It is harvesting by animal instead of by machines. Grazing provides good nutrition and other benefits to the animal and can lead to more productive forage growth. A normal grazing season in much of the US runs from March or April to October. Therefore, grazing is the easiest way to feed livestock for most of the year. It is also the best way to have healthy plants.

Greenchop is the feeding of fresh forage only available during the growing season of the forage.

Hay and silage are the two main products of forage harvested by machines during the peak growing seasons. Hay and silage production requires specific knowledge of which species are most suitable, of when and how to harvest, and of how to properly preserve the forage for the best possible quality and yield.

Grazing

Greenchop

Silage

Hay