Pastures: Introduction
Excerpt from Publication 19, Pasture Production, Order
this publication
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Other Pasture Recommendations
- Related Links
Introduction
When Cato, the Roman philosopher was asked more than 2,000 years ago
what was the most profitable thing a farmer could have, he replied, "A
first-class pasture." Somewhat startled, his questioners then asked
what the second most prized possession would be. "A second class
pasture," was his ready reply.
In Ontario, livestock producers use almost half a million hectares of
improved pasture and three-quarters of a million hectares of unimproved
pasture land. The combined area provides the cheapest source of nutrition
for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses, deer, elk, bison and
other exotic ungulates that help to diversify Ontario's agriculture. Besides
providing nutritious low-cost feed, they allow farming to be carried out
in parts of Ontario where other crops cannot be produced and allow farming
without soil depletion.
First class, and even second class pastures, just don't happen. They are
the result of good management - management based on the knowledge of how
plants grow, their fertility requirements and their ability to withstand
grazing and trampling by animals.
Pastures can be improved through a combination of weed and brush control,
fertilizing, reseeding to higher producing species, and grazing management.
This publication highlights the principles and management practices for
top production and utilization of pastures in Ontario.
Related Links
... on forages and pastures, visit Forages
and Pastures (OMAFRA)
... on weed control, order Publication
75 Guide to Weed Control: Forage Crops
... on agronomy for field crops, order Pub.
811 Agronomy Guide for Field Crops: Chapter 3 Forages
... on field crop protection, order Publication
812, Field Crop Protection Guide
... on livestock, visit Livestock
(OMAFRA)
