The impact of geographical characteristics of field pattern on forage management was investigated in 72 mountainous farms (France) managing dairy cows and possibly suckler cows. Forage management types at the field-pattern level were described with principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses. Relationships with the field pattern characteristics were established through one-way ANOVA. The farms were separated into five types of forage management: extensive grazing (ExG), intensive dairy cow grazing (IDG), management turned onto one early cutting (EC) or intensive cutting (IC) and specialised grazing (SG). We highlighted significant differences between the five types in terms of elevation and field area. ExG was located at a higher elevation than the other types and corresponded to sloping field patterns with relatively large field area. IDG was associated with relatively large fields and grouped field patterns. EC was linked with fragmented field patterns less favourable for grazing, with the smallest field area. IC corresponded to intermediate relatively flat field patterns adapted to cutting. SG management was associated with large undivided field patterns. These results highlight that geographical characteristics of field patterns constrain forage management in mountainous bovine systems.