When the hay is gathered or the crop harvested animals can be put to graze or browse on the 'gleanings' from a grain or legume crop or the 'aftermath' on the hay fields.

There is a time in the year when most plants have ripe seeds and that is the time to harvest it, or to cut the hay so that it has the maximum nutrients. Cutting hay after the seeds have been scattered could mean disaster as the amount of hay needed to get the animals through to the next Spring increases as its nutritional value falls.