Forward grazing is a pasture management technique where the pasture is grazed by two groups of animals within the same species. This method optimizes the use of forage by prioritizing access for animals with higher nutritional requirements.
Understanding Forward Grazing
This system is designed to ensure that animals with the greatest need for high-quality nutrients receive the best available forage. It achieves this by allowing two distinct groups of the same animal species to graze the same pasture sequentially.
The Grazing Process
The core of forward grazing involves a two-step process:
- First Group: Usually consisting of young animals or those with higher nutritional needs (like lactating mothers or finishing animals), this group is given first access to the pasture section. They are allowed to graze the top of the plants first, selecting the most nutritional leaves which are typically the highest quality part of the plant.
- Second Group: Following the first group, the second group of animals (often those with lower nutritional needs or mature animals) grazes the forage left behind by the first group. This group essentially acts as a clean-up crew, utilizing the remaining plant material.
This sequential grazing allows the operation to maximize the nutritional benefit obtained from the pasture, matching the quality of the forage consumed to the specific needs of different animal groups within the herd or flock.
