Agricultural Science Keypoints 3
16.0 PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS Definition: Pasture is a piece of land or field covered with forage crops usually grasses and legumes and used for grazing. Forage crops are grasses and legume crops grown primarily for animal feed production and they include pastures, soiling crops, hay, silage and straw.
16.1 TYPES OF PASTURE (A) Natural Pastures: These are grasses and legumes which grows naturally on their own and are fed upon by farm animals. Characteristics of Natural Pasture: (1) It contains grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees. (2) The grasses and legumes may be of low quality (3) Has good regenerative ability. (4) It is drought resistant (5) It can withstand trampling (6) The growth of new plant is stimulated by burning. (B) Artificial pasture: This is an established or improved pasture that is deliberately planted and managed by man to be grazed by livestock.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTIFICIAL PASTURE: (1) It contains a grass/legume ratio in the desired proportion (2) It contains very high quality of grasses and legumes (3) It has ability to regenerate after grazing (4) It has ability to withstand trampling (5) The legumes help to enrich the soil with soil nitrates.
16.2 COMMON GRASSES OF LIVESTOCK Common Name Botanical Name
