Pasture design

A simple question really, for such a grand title:

I'm trying to figure out whether it would be better to have all my pasture seeded with a mix of cool- and warm-weather species (of grass, legume, etc) or to have separate specialized pasture areas, some utilized in spring/autumn and others in summer? The latter makes more sense to me, but almost all the seed mixes I see out there seem to combine cool and warm weather species.

Hi Edward,
I have no actual experience with pasture rotation except with chickens, but I do read a lot and watch a lot of youtube. One thing I see, is that you should alternate your starting paddock. After the winter, start the rotation in paddock 1. The next year, you would start it in paddock 2, etc. This is to help the paddocks get different levels of use at different times of the year. Given that, I would do the mix. I would also be concerned that in certain climates, trying to have just warm weather or just cold weather might leave you with a fairly bare paddock at certain times of the year.

For forage species… I have watched a billion YouTube videos on this subject and have been just adapting my plans as I go.

My goal is to have two things…
1) to have forages Actively Growing for as much of the year as possible.
2) to get some “winter stockpile” growing before we hit the depths of Winter every year

Just getting started here at the new place.

For annuals… the best I have read up on so far (for my particular situation) are “quick-n-big spreader” crabgrass for summer heat…. And “annual ryegrass” for active growth further into the cold times. Both grow outside the typical time of year as the mixes normally contain.

I just realized my lunch is almost over… and this question of yours would take a day to write out.

To sum it up… I will be mixing everything into the same pastures. Strongest survives.

Big producers will have an annual pasture off to the side. The ryegrass and crab grass go well together