Beite

Beite is a term that appears in several Germanic-language contexts to refer to grazing or pasture land used for feeding livestock. In Nordic languages, notably Norwegian, beite can denote pasture or grazing land, and related forms may appear in discussions of grazing management. The word is generally linked to feeding livestock and to the landscape that supports such feeding. Its exact spelling and usage can vary by language and historical period, but the core idea centers on land used for grazing rather than cropping.

In agricultural practice, beite is a key concept in pasture-based husbandry. Effective beite management involves allocating grazing areas across seasons, monitoring forage supply and livestock demand, and preventing overgrazing to maintain plant diversity, soil health, and long-term productivity. Rotational grazing and rest periods are common strategies associated with beite to optimize forage availability and pasture resilience.

Beite also occurs in onomastic and geographic contexts in Nordic regions. It may appear as a surname or as part of place names, reflecting historical associations with pasture use or landscape features. Because the term is more common in regional or historical texts, English-language sources may prefer the more widely used terms pasture, meadow, or grazing, though beite remains used in local dialects and older writings.

See also: Weide, pasture, grazing, rotational grazing.