Pasture Management

ONLINE COURSE PASTURE MANAGEMENT

"Staff excellent, I am enjoying the learning experience." Pasture Management student, Australia

GAIN A STRONG FOUNDATION IN THE APPLICATION OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Pastures are used for grazing animals or for harvesting fodder for storage and later use as animal feed. The productivity and value of a farm is linked to the quality of it's pasture. Pastures are therefore a huge part of making a farm viable and profitable.

Businesses exist that are focused strongly if not completely upon supporting farmers in their pursuit of better pastures. Consultants, seed suppliers, fertilizer companies and research workers around the world build entire careers focussed on the production of better pasture land. Farmers who can harness and apply techniques for pasture improvement will often find profitability can increase greatly across their entire operation.

Whether you are managing a farm, or simply engaged in some farm support enterprise; this course can provide a strong foundation for better understanding and application of pasture management, no matter where you live in the world.

OUR TUTORS

Dr. Gareth Pearce BSc(Hons), BVSc, MA, MVetS, PhD, GradCertEd(HE), PGCertAqVetS, PGCertWLBio&Cons, DiplECPHM, MRCVS. Gareth has over 25 years of experience in teaching and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, wildlife ecology and conservation in a variety of colleges and universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the Universities of Melbourne and Bristol, having previously graduated in Agricultural Science and gained a PhD in Livestock Behaviour and Production. He also has post-graduate qualifications in Education, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Aquatic Veterinary Studies and Wildlife Biology & Conservation.

Anna Sylvester B.Sc.Hons.(Human Biology), M.Sc.Equine
Anna graduated with a degree in Human Biology from Loughborough University and then went on to complete an MSc in Equine Science at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and has a high level of expertise in equine science. She has since spent time in managerial, research and lecturing positions. She also has practical equine experience, and still competes nationally whenever the opportunity arises.

Marius Erasmus B.Sc.Agric., B.Sc.(Wildlife), M.Sc.Agric.
Subsequent to completing a BSc (agric) degree in animal science, he completed an honours degree in wildlife management, and a masters degree in production animal physiology. Following the Masters degree, he has worked for 9 years in the UK, and South Africa; in wildlife management, dairy, beef and poultry farming.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Pastures
2. The Grass Plant
3. Pasture Varieties
4. Site Considerations
5. Establishing New Pastures
6. Managing Existing Pastures
7. Managing Stock on Pasture
8. Pasture Management Work Tasks

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Determine criteria for selecting appropriate varieties of plants for a pasture.
• Identify characteristics of a pasture plant which are relevant to both making an identification, and to considering its value as a pasture species.
• Evaluate the potential of given sites for pasture development programs
• Explain the procedures used in managing the establishment of pasture.
• Explain the techniques used in managing pasture which is already been established
• Assess the commercial and nutritional value of pasture species in the context of farm animal feed, and determine appropriate ways of managing stock.
• Develop an appropriate work program for the management of a pasture by a farmer

What You Will Do

• Prepare a catalogued resource collection of 30 items including pamphlets, brochures and contact addresses for information relevant to pasture varieties.
• List factors that affect the choice of seed mix for a pasture.
• Categorise 5 different pasture seed mixes according to application, detailing the components of each mix together, commenting on appropriate applications for that mix in your locality.
• Explain the benefits of seed coating for pasture establishment.
• Label parts of a grass plants on unlabelled diagrams
• Distinguish between 4 different clover and medic species using illustrations
• List 20 different pasture plant varieties suited to your locality, including:
  • grasses
  • legumes
  • other fodder plants
• Identify 10 different species of plants growing in an established pasture in your locality, by labelling a pressed specimen of each.
• Submit proof of seeds you identified
• What type of pasture is inoculated, and why?
• Give and explain one example of why a dairy cow might perform differently when grazed on different types of pasture species?
• Compare samples of 5 different pasture seed mixes.
• List three pasture species which would be appropriate to grow in each of the following situations:
  • Dairy cattle on fertile, moist soil in your locality.
  • Beef steers on poorer soils in your region.
  • Horses for a horse riding school in your locality.
• List factors affecting the suitability of a site for pasture.
• Assess climatic and edaphic data for a specific pasture site, including:
  • rainfall
  • temperature
  • topography
  • soil type
• Compare the appropriateness of 3 different soil cultivation techniques for pasture establishment on a specified site in your locality.
• Explain weed control methods during pasture establishment on a specified site.
• Explain grazing practices appropriate to new pasture on a specified site.
• Establish production targets for a specified pasture, explaining how those targets are determined.
• Select suitable machinery for pasture management including establishment and harvest, explaining the selection.
• Explain the steps involved in preparation of a specified area land for sowing pasture.
• Write a plan for the establishment of new pasture on a specified site, which lists all important tasks in chronological order.
• Explain factors causing change in the nature of established pasture.
• Compare improved pasture with native pasture, with respect to:
  • species present
  • weeds
  • maintenance requirements
• List characteristics of different types of pasture, including:
  • sweet
  • sour
  • mixed
• Determine sustainable stocking rates of a specified type of animal for 3 different pastures. Specify the pastures and the animals.
• Analyse the food value of 2 different pastures.
• Compare the grazing behaviour of 3 different farm animals.
• Define the concept of palatability of a specific pasture
• Determine grazing capacity of a specified paddock.
• Specify the crop and all other variables.
• Evaluate the production performance of two different specified pastures over a 3 year period.
• Identify 5 different weeds that are significant problems in pasture
• Explain 2 methods of weed control in a specific established pasture.
• Explain the affect of fire on a specific pasture.
• Explain the affect of different soil management practices on pasture, including:
  • fertilising
  • pest control
  • watering
  • cultivation
  • fallowing
• Quantify materials and supply requirements for pasture management.
• List facilities required for the handling and storage of materials and supplies.
• List minimum machinery required for the management of a specified site.
• Develop management plan for pasture in a specified situation, including a program of tasks to be carried out over a 12 month period.
• Explain industry research techniques and develop a conclusion.

What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses

Who are our tutors?

Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “About Us” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

Sample Course Notes

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How Long will it take to complete the course?

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Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”

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I don’t think this is the right course for me.

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