Choosing the Best Grasses and Legumes for Pasture Production in the Peace Region

Selecting the right forages for pasture production in the Peace Region, is essential for maintaining high-quality grazing, improving soil health, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The northern Alberta climate presents challenges such as shorter growing seasons, cold winters, and periodic droughts, making it crucial to choose grasses and legumes that thrive in these conditions.

In this post, we’ll explore the best grasses and legumes for pasture systems in the region, focusing on grazing tolerance, persistence, and nutritional value.

Grasses for Pasture Production

Grasses serve as the foundation for a productive pasture, offering durability, regrowth potential, and fiber for livestock. The best grasses for Grande Prairie pastures should be cold-hardy, drought-resistant, and capable of maintaining strong regrowth after grazing.

1. Meadow Bromegrass

One of the top choices for pasture in northern Alberta, meadow bromegrass offers excellent regrowth and high forage yields, making it ideal for rotational grazing systems.

• Grazing Benefits: Deep-rooted for drought resistance, high yield, and excellent regrowth after grazing.
• Best Use: Rotational grazing systems where frequent regrowth is needed.

2. Smooth Bromegrass

A reliable perennial grass, smooth bromegrass is known for its high yield and persistence. It establishes easily and provides nutrient-dense grazing.

• Grazing Benefits: High forage quality, palatable, and excellent for mixed stands with legumes.
• Best Use: Long-term pastures with rotational or continuous grazing.

3. Orchardgrass

Orchardgrass is a highly palatable grass with fast regrowth, making it a great choice for intensive grazing systems.

• Grazing Benefits: Quick regrowth, high protein content, and blends well with legumes.
• Best Use: Managed rotational grazing systems.

4. Creeping Red Fescue

A hardy, low-maintenance grass that thrives in northern Alberta’s cooler climate. It provides excellent ground cover and is ideal for low-input grazing systems.

• Grazing Benefits: Drought-tolerant, winter-hardy, and maintains productivity under heavy grazing.
• Best Use: Permanent pastures in areas with marginal soil.

5. Russian Wildrye

This deep-rooted, drought-resistant grass is ideal for late-season grazing. It maintains good forage quality into fall.

• Grazing Benefits: High in protein, extends the grazing season, and tolerates dry conditions.
• Best Use: Fall and winter grazing programs.

Legumes for Pasture Production

Legumes add protein and digestibility to pastures while also fixing nitrogen in the soil, reducing fertilizer needs. The best legumes for grazing should be persistent, grazing-tolerant, and bloat-resistant where possible.

1. Alfalfa

While primarily used for hay, alfalfa is an excellent pasture legume when managed correctly. It offers high yields, great regrowth, and high protein content.

• Grazing Benefits: High-quality forage, strong regrowth, and excellent for nitrogen fixation.
• Best Use: Managed grazing systems where rotational grazing allows for recovery.

2. Birdsfoot Trefoil

One of the best legumes for bloat-free grazing, birdsfoot trefoil is a great option for long-term pastures.

• Grazing Benefits: Does not cause bloat, deep-rooted for drought tolerance, and maintains quality throughout the season.
• Best Use: Mixed pastures with grasses to improve protein content.

3. Cicer Milkvetch

Another non-bloating legume, cicer milkvetch thrives in northern Alberta’s cooler climate and provides persistent, high-quality grazing.

• Grazing Benefits: Long-lived, highly palatable, and tolerates continuous grazing well.
• Best Use: Permanent pastures with a mix of grasses.

4. Red Clover

Red clover establishes quickly and provides highly digestible forage, but it requires frequent reseeding compared to other legumes.

• Grazing Benefits: Rapid establishment, high digestibility, and great for short-term pasture improvement.
• Best Use: Short-term pasture rotations with aggressive grasses.

5. Sainfoin

A highly palatable, non-bloating legume, sainfoin is an excellent alternative to alfalfa for grazing.

• Grazing Benefits: Bloat-free grazing, drought tolerance, and maintains nutritional value as it matures.
• Best Use: Mixed pasture systems with grasses.

Best Grass-Legume Mixes for Pasture

For the best grazing efficiency and nutritional balance, it’s ideal to plant grass-legume mixtures. Some recommended blends include:

• Meadow Bromegrass + Alfalfa → High-yield, nitrogen-fixing, balanced pasture.
• Smooth Bromegrass + Birdsfoot Trefoil → Long-term, persistent pasture with non-bloating legumes.
• Creeping Red Fescue + Cicer Milkvetch → Low-maintenance, high-quality grazing for cooler climates.
• Orchardgrass + Red Clover → Fast-growing, high-digestibility pasture mix.
• Russian Wildrye + Sainfoin → Drought-resistant, bloat-free grazing system.

Conclusion

Selecting the right grasses and legumes is essential for long-term pasture productivity, soil health, and livestock nutrition. A diverse pasture mix provides better seasonal distribution of forage, improved soil fertility, and greater resilience to environmental challenges.