What is one benefit of enhancing soil health in pastures?

Enhancing soil health in pastures contributes to improved feed digestibility, which is essential for the overall nutrition of livestock. Healthy soil supports a diverse and vigorous plant community, which produces high-quality forage. This forage, in turn, is often richer in essential nutrients and better suited for ruminant animals, leading to enhanced digestion.

When soil is healthy, it typically has an improved structure and a balanced nutrient profile, which encourages the growth of plants that are more palatable and nutritious for livestock. Furthermore, healthy soil supports beneficial microorganisms that can enhance nutrient availability and improve the overall quality of the forage produced. As a result, livestock consuming forage from healthy pastures are likely to have better digestive efficiency, leading to improved animal health and productivity.

The other options presented do not accurately capture a benefit associated with enhancing soil health in pastures. For example, while higher stocking rates may result from healthier pastures, it is not a direct benefit linked to soil health improvements and may instead depend on various management practices.