Des prairies productives au service de l'élevage des ruminants et de leurs éleveurs

Recent research has identified possible ways of optimizing grassland yield and its utilization by ruminants in a way to promote sustainable development. Mineral and organic fertilizers are essential for grass production, and in this case their efficiency was increased when used in small doses. Mixed leys featuring legumes and different grass species must be encouraged. Beyond harvested forage, which is easier to manage, the keys for optimizing grassland utilization as pasture involve i) encouraging farmers to manage pasture in a way that is adapted to grass growth and ii) achieving the right balance between optimization of grass utilization and individual animal performance. Rules are reviewed for planning grassland management in a way to improve the efficiency of grass-based systems.