Introduction To Range And Pastures

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(a) Completed table on forage crops

(b) i. Definition of pasture

Pasture is an area of land covered with grasses and legumes (herbage) that is used for grazing or feeding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.

(b) ii. Four ways a grass-legume mixture is important in livestock production

• The legume component fixes atmospheric nitrogen through its root nodules, enriching the soil and improving the growth and yield of the companion grass.
• It supplies a balanced diet, since the grass provides energy (carbohydrate) while the legume supplies protein, giving the animal a more complete ration.
• It raises the total feeding value and palatability of the herbage, so animals eat more and gain weight or produce milk faster.
• The mixture gives a denser, all-year ground cover that protects the soil from erosion and suppresses weeds.

(c) Six characteristics of rangelands

• They are large expanses of natural, uncultivated land carrying native grasses, herbs and shrubs.
• The vegetation grows naturally and is not planted or managed by man.
• They occur mostly in semi-arid regions with low and unreliable rainfall.
• Animals feed by grazing and browsing directly on the natural herbage.
• They are generally of low carrying capacity, supporting few animals per unit area.
• The forage quantity and quality vary greatly with season, being lush in the wet season and scarce and dry in the dry season.