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Pasture

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Pasture is a special kind of land used for grazing.

Green Pastures-02and (3150460590)
Green Pastures-02and (3150460590)

Animals eat the plants that grow there. This includes horses, cattle, sheep, and swine. Most of the plants are grasses. You might also see legumes and other forbs. Forbs are plants that are not grasses. These lands are very important for many animals.

World Agricultural Land by Use
World Agricultural Land by Use

There are different ways to manage these lands. Some pastures are small and enclosed by fences. Farmers use intensive practices on these tracts of farmland. They might add seeds to the ground. They may also use irrigation or fertilizers. This helps the plants grow well for the animals. This is different from a meadow. A meadow is often used for making hay.

Landwirtschaft, Weidetiere - Hochalm
Landwirtschaft, Weidetiere - Hochalm

Some lands are much larger and not fenced in. We call these rangelands. Rangelands grow mostly native vegetation. People manage them with extensive practices. One way is through controlled burning. They also regulate how much grazing happens. This helps keep the land healthy. These large systems can also include wild animals.

Pasture in Pennsylvania
Pasture in Pennsylvania

Pasture is used in many different places around the world. In mountains, it is hard to sow crops. This is why animals like goats and yaks live there. They are well suited to the tough terrain. In dry areas, camels might graze on pasture. In humid regions, people use pasture for organic farming. Some areas are called sheepwalks. This is a place where sheep roam freely. The productivity of a sheepwalk depends on the rock underneath.

Pasture in Pennsylvania
Pasture in Pennsylvania

Pasture connects animals to the land they live on. For many animals, grazing is their main food source. This is different from factory farming. In factory farming, animals are often fed in troughs. In a pasture, the animals and the land work together. Over many generations, they can become one ecosystem. This means the animals and the plants help each other. There are many types of pasture habitats. These include the savanna, the steppe, and the prairie.

World Agricultural Land by Use
World Agricultural Land by Use
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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Landwirtschaft, Weidetiere - Hochalm.jpg
Landwirtschaft, Weidetiere - Hochalm.jpg
File:Green Pastures-02and (3150460590).jpg
Green Pastures-02and (3150460590).jpg
File:World Agricultural Land by Use.svg
World Agricultural Land by Use.svg
File:Pasture in Pennsylvania.jpg
Pasture in Pennsylvania.jpg
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