A pasture is a field of grass where farm animals like cows, horses, sheep, or goats graze and roam freely. Instead of being kept in barns all day, the animals spend time outdoors in the pasture, eating fresh grass and enjoying the sunshine.

Farmers carefully manage their pastures, making sure the grass stays healthy and doesn't get eaten down to dirt. Good pasture land has rich soil and the right mix of grasses and plants that animals need to stay strong. In some places, animals might graze in a pasture all summer, then move to barns when winter comes. In warmer climates, pastures can provide food year-round.

The phrase out to pasture has a special meaning beyond farming. When people say someone has been “put out to pasture,” they mean that person has retired or been pushed aside after years of working. It comes from the idea of a workhorse no longer pulling plows but instead spending peaceful days grazing in a field. While it can sound dismissive, being out to pasture literally means an animal has earned a restful life after years of hard work.