Pasture: The Starting Point for Success in Livestock Production

In many livestock projects, it’s still common to see producers begin their investments with the purchase of superior genetics, believing that herd performance depends solely on high-potential animals.

However, this view is technically flawed. The true foundation of an efficient livestock system begins with pasture, not with animals.
Without adequate nutrition and a compatible management structure, genetic potential will never be fully expressed — leading to poor performance and wasted resources.

The ideal order of priorities in modern livestock

🔻 Common (and incorrect) approach:

1. Genetics

2. Pasture

3. Paddocks, water, and management infrastructure

✅ Technically recommended order:

1. Pasture

2. Paddocks, water, and management infrastructure

3. Genetics

This simple change in priorities completely transforms the productive and economic outcomes of the farm.

Why pasture must come before genetics

Superior genetics, on its own, does not guarantee productivity.
For an animal to fully express its potential, it needs a suitable nutritional, sanitary, and comfort environment.
That’s why pasture becomes the true foundation of any livestock system.

Well-established and properly managed pastures provide consistent, high-quality forage, reduce feed supplementation costs, and increase stocking rates per hectare — strengthening the system’s profitability.

Steps to implement an efficient livestock system

1. Choosing the right forage species

Selecting the ideal forage must consider:

• The property’s soil and climate conditions;

• The desired management system (intensive, semi-intensive, or extensive);

• The genetic profile of the animals to be raised.

2. Developing structure and management infrastructure

Once the forage species is chosen, the next step is to design:

• Proper paddock division;

• An efficient water supply system;

• Handling facilities that ensure animal control and comfort.

3. Acquiring compatible genetics

Only after the pasture base and management infrastructure are consolidated should investment be made in animal genetics.
With the right environment in place, productive performance will come naturally, consistently, and profitably.

Pasture is the heart of livestock production.
Investing first in adapted forages and well-planned infrastructure ensures that animal genetics can reach its full productive potential and that the system remains sustainable in the long term.