Agriculture Courses

Online Study Horse Management Course

Learn Equine business management skills

A course designed to equip students with a range of necessary management and horse care skills. Students undertake core studies in marketing and business operations combined with three stream units in horse care, plus two elective units of study.

Topics covered include:

Horse psychology & handling, Buying a horse, conformation, the digestive system, principles of feeding and watering, pasture management, grooming, shoeing, exercise and conditioning, stable design and general management. Coupled with a workplace project ensures that this comprehensive qualification is to a standard required in the horse industry.

Accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council - I.A.R.C.

Home Study Alternative Agricultural Diploma

Distance Learning Alternative Agricultural Diploma

The looming food crisis has been created by energy-consuming, broad-acre systems that rely heavily on chemical inputs. These systems need to be urgently dismantled and replaced by healthy, environmentally sustainable, alternative farming systems.

Study this course - Make changes in your farming practices now!

Accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council - I.A.R.C

Distance Learning Animal Husbandry Diploma

Are you interested in a career working with animals?

Suitable for anyone wishing to work in animal production at any level. Improve your career prospects within the animal husbandry industry. Study at your own pace in your own time. Supported by highly experienced tutors.

This course provides training for people wishing to work in animal production at:

• Technician or management level in positions such as a farm manager

• Technical representatives

• Trainers

• Agricultural Consultants.

Modules available include: Animal Husbandry, Animal Breeding, Animal Behaviour, Aquaculture, Sustainable Agriculture;Organic Farming, Horse Care, Poultry, Pigs, Permaculture, Sheep, Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, and Pasture Management.

This course is internationally accredited through the I.A.R.C.

Home Study Agricultural Marketing Course

Learn to market and sell farm produce

Study this course if you want to develop in depth knowledge of agricultural marketing:

• Improve your own business success or start a new career in this field.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

• Improve your career prospects or business.

• All tutors are highly experienced and qualified.

The core activity of any farm is producing animals or crops, but if the produce is not marketed at the right time for the right price, the whole financial viability of the farm is at best unstable. This course develops your ability to analyse and manage marketing problems in an agricultural enterprise

Ever asked....Why does my pet do that?

Ever wondered why your best mate behaves is "strange" way? Gain a greater understanding of the behaviour of animals by studying this subject. This course is suitable for anyone working with animals:

• Understand how animals behave and why they behave the way they do

• Learn new techniques to understand how to improve animal behave

• Start your own business in animal behaviour

This provides an excellent foundation for people working with animals in any situation: farms, zoos, veterinary practices, pet shops or even in the wild. Understanding what motives and animal to behave in a certain way can help the animal handler to adapt his management procedures to benefit the animal and the handler. This understanding will help reduce the stress in human-animal relationships.

 Improve your knowledge of annual breeding and planning.

• All tutors highly experienced and qualified in the field.

• Learn about cross-breeding and live stock improvement.

• A must for anyone wanting to learn more about animal breeding.

Plan and implement animal breeding programs using genetic theory, practical applications to daily husbandry practice, and management of animal breeding programs. This course includes a sound introduction to genetics relevant to any type of animal. Personal guidance from highly qualified and experienced animal scientists and practitioners.

Topics covered include: introduction to genetics; selection; pure breeding; introduction to cross breeding; cross breeding and livestock improvement.

"The course is particularly useful to students who are or wish to be involved in agricultural livestock production" - Marius Erasmus - B.Sc. Agriculture, B. Science (Wildlife), M.Sc. Agriculture

Home Study Animal Health Care Course

Follow your passion into Animal Health Care 

• Suitable for anyone interested in working with animals – from wildlife parks to vet’s practices.
• Understand animal health care issues and what can be done to improve animal health.
• Developed and taught by highly experienced tutors.
• Study in your own time at your own pace.

Learn to care for the health of any type of animal (focus is on mammals and birds) and understand the scope of services offered by animal care services, including in veterinary practices. This course is appropriate for anyone interested in working with animals including on a farm, a wildlife park or a veterinary practice. It is a sound foundation course and designed to cover most of what is found in a typical veterinary assistant's course in many countries around the world.

Animal Anatomy and Physiology Home Study Course

Online foundation course in animal studies

Develop a sound foundation knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology to use as:

• a basis to understanding, care and management of animals in domesticated or wild situations.
• a starting point for working with animals in any applied situation (farms, vet reception, zoos, wildlife, parks, animal protection shelters etc)

What our students have to say about our courses:  "I think it is absolutely brilliant. I have never come across such a friendly, helpful staff and am so enjoying my course. I will definitely recommend ACS ot anybody who wants to study" Tanya Sadler, United Arab Emirates - Animal Husbandry course.

Animal Health Distance Learning Course.

A great introduction to animal health management

• Improve your understanding of animal health issues.

• Learn to assess and describe animal diseases and consider treatments.

• Taught and written by highly experienced professionals in the field.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

You will learn to assess and describe common diseases in animals, and how to identify appropriate treatments for these diseases, conditions or injuries. Specific topics include Signs and Symptoms of Diseases  Disease Classification, Causes of Disease, Inflammation, Fever and Immunity, Tissue Repair, Wounds and Cell changes (death, cancers etc). 

Home Study Feed and Nutrition Course

Feeding of farm animals

• Learn about animal feed and nutrition from expert tutors.

• Understand how to evaluate and select feeds.

• All tutors are highly experienced in the field.Study at a time to suit you.

• Learn how to understand the composition of a range of feeds - including pasture, fodder crops, grasses, cereals, seed, and other edible plants.

This course also explains the role of proteins, vitamins and minerals in animal diets. It equips you with the skills required to evaluate feeding and select appropriate feeds - for digestibility and nutritional content - applicable to real life farming situations.

Study care and breeding of fresh water fish

• Learn the essentials of aquaculture.

• Manage aquaculture enterprise for fresh water fish.

• Improve your knowledge with this essential course.

• Improve your job prospects in this field.

• Develop the capacity to manage freshwater aquaculture enterprises.

Aquaculture is the farming of water animals (eg. Fish, crustaceans);for human consumption.This course covers: water (e.g.source, purity, flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen), stocking rates, spawning, checking stock, stripping, fertilization, hatching, growth stages, feeding, harvesting, stocking and more.

Suitable for anyone wanting to work in the equine field.

• An in depth study of horses.

• A great way to find work in the field or to improve your existing job prospects.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

• Taught by highly experienced tutors.

• A foundation qualification for a career at management or technician level in the equine industry.

Employment opportunities: Graduates may find employment opportunities in any horse industry establishment including stables, stud farms, riding schools, veterinary practices, equine supply and service organisations/companies, event management or race courses.

Accredited by International Accreditation and Recognition Council.

Provides advance standing (credits) in higher qualifications (including Advanced Diplomas and Degrees) with Warnborough College (UK & Ireland), Australian Correspondence Schools, and an international network of ACS accredited colleges.

Calf Rearing Distance Learning Course.

Study the rearing and selection of calves.

• Improve your ability to rear calves.

• Improve your job prospects with improved knowledge.

• Learn from industry specialists – our tutors!.

• Study in your own time at your own pace..

This course develops your ability to manage the rearing of calves for different agricultural purposes. It covers all aspects of calf rearing including calf selection, birth, calf diseases, rearing systems, calf housing, weaning and post weaning. Learn to select calves for specific purposes (eg. dairy, beef, breeding) and rear them to that end, identifying and dealing with health and other problems that may occur along the way.

Suitable for people wanting to work in the field of agriculture or those who simply want to improve their general knowledge of agriculture. Study in your own time at your own pace. Learn from our highly qualified and experienced tutors. This course develops your capacity to work confidently on a specialized or mixed farm.

Core units equip you with all the basics needed for understanding:

• general animal health management 

• farm management

• marketing skills

Choose three elective units from a list that includes: soil and pasture management, calf rearing, poultry, beef or dairy cattle etc. An excellent starting point for learning the basics of farming.

This course is internationally accredited through the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (I.A.R.C.) 

Learn about alternative farming methods for the modern farmer

• Study alternative farming methods.

• Improve your knowledge of this innovative farming method.

• Improve your skills in research and networking.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

• Our tutors are all highly experienced and knowledgeable in the field.

Farming has changed greatly over recent decades, and to survive, the modern farmer needs to increasingly seek alternative approaches, whether in terms of what is produced, or how it is produced. This course develops an innovative approach to farming by broadening awareness of options, and fostering skills to research and network more effectively.

Animal Health Certificate Home Study Course.

Train for a career in animal health or animal welfare.

• Improve your job prospects or career in the field.

• Learn from industry experts – our tutors! 

• Study in your own time, at your own pace. 

This is a comprehensive and highly practical course; for anyone who wants to better understand the health and wellbeing of animals. It is designed to provide a foundation for employment in any type of animal care job; whether pets, domesticated farm livestock or wildlife (captive or free).

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY BY DISTANCE LEARNING.

 The qualification consists of 600 hours of study divided into core and elective modules of study.

Core studies include the study of animal anatomy and physiology, animal health care, and animal feed and nutrition. Elective units are chosen to direct studies toward the students area of interest.

Elective units may include Horse Care I, II and III; Animal Breeding; Dairy Cattle; Beef Cattle; Pigs; Calf Rearing; Sheep; Recognising Animal Diseases; and Natural Animal Health Care.

A highly recommended foundation certificate

• Study the many facets of keeping a horse at grass or in the stabled environment.

• Core modules ensure students have a firm understanding of the key elements of caring for their horse.

• Elective modules are chosen to allow students to undertake more in depth studies

Electives include: animal anatomy and physiology, feed and nutrition, animal health or animal breeding. While the elective modules have a more general large animal focus, the knowledge is easily translated to a horse management situation through the focus of lesson assignments and set tasks..Once completed this Certificate can be used as credit toward an Advanced Certificate in Applied Management (Horses) or Associate Diploma in Equine Studies.

Home Study Dairy Cattle Course

Improve your knowledge of dairy cattle management and planning.

• An excellent course for anyone wanting to work with dairy cattle or to improve their existing knowledge.

• Improve your job and career prospects.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

• Study with industry experts – our tutors!

Student comment: "(This course)... has given me confidence in that I can understand the farmers I will be dealing with as a vet." H. Thorneycroft - Dairy Cattle

 "An insight into the care and management of dairy cattle".

• Study the behaviour and mental welfare of horses

• A specialised course in equine behaviour.

• An excellent opportunity to develop your knowledge of horses and how they behave.

• Learn to identify problems in behaviour

• Improve your career prospects.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

Develop your understanding of horse behaviour and your ability to apply that to the welfare and training of the horse. Behaviour is any externally observable activity of an animal. In general, it includes: Movement of parts of the body, stopping expected movement, secretions from the body and changes in body colour. People study equine behaviour to be able to understand and recognise "normal" behaviour and from this be able to identify and do something about .“abnormal”. behaviour; and better manage a horse.

Study a  range of  toics related to farm management

• Improve your farm management knowledge and skills.

• Learn from our expert agriculture tutors.

• Improve your business and career prospects.

• Study in your own time at your own pace.

Farming is just as much about management as it is about animal or crop production. Unfortunately in today's world, the ability to produce a good animal or crop is no guarantee for success!Through this course, learn to analyse, diagnose and make decisions related to management of a farm business.

Learn to manage the daily requirements of a horse at grass

• Understand how to handle horses.

• Learn about the equine industry.

• Study in your own time and at your own pace

• Learn from our highly knowledge equine studies tutors.

The course aims to develop the ability to handle horses using a range of different procedures; the skills to evaluate horses conformation; an understanding of the horses diet; knowledge of grooming procedures; an ability to develop appropriate management procedures for a specific situation; and knowledge of commercial opportunities in the equine industry, including how to buy and sell horses.

Student comment: "The course is a lot more detailed than I thought it would be - I am learning a lot more than I hoped! I am very happy with the course and the school, very professional and thorough". Janette - Horse Care I student

Home Study Horse Care Course

Develop your horse care knowledge further with this second horse care course.

• An indepth horse care course.

• Improve your knowledge of horse care.

• Improve your job or business prospects.

• Study in your own time and at your own pace.

• Learn from our highly knowledge equine studies tutors..

Learn to care for horses in a stable and improve your knowledge of bedding systems, stables, mucking out, foot care and shoeing, tack, exercise and fitness and conditioning. Analyse and determine feeding requirements and techniques available, and develop equine stable management programs.

Student Comment: 'I went from negligible knowledge of horses to a new level of basic knowledge. Now, I am truly useful around the stable and farm. I would like to make this my retirement career, following my 30-years as a professional mechanical engineer"- H. Davidson

Improve your equine health and welfare knowledge

An advanced horse care course

• Learn from our experienced and knowledgeable horse care tutors.
• Study in your own time and at your own pace.
• Essential for anyone interested in working with or learning more about horses.

Building on Horse Care I and II, you will learn to better manage the health and condition of horses in different situations;identifying signs of poor condition, and address those problems appropriately. Understand the things that can stress a horse and increase it's susceptibility to problems and know how to manage different situations (events, travel, weather etc.) to minimize risk.

Irrigation Management in Agriculture Home Study Course

Learn about large scale irrigation systems. 

• Learn more about irrigation management in an agricultural situation.
• Study in your own time and at your own pace.
• Understand large scale irrigation systems.

This course builds on existing skills and knowledge achieved in Irrigation (Agricultural) BAG213 or an equivalent course. The course develops your ability to participate in design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for agricultural applications.

• Deals with the farming of salt water species of fish, shellfish, seaweed and other marine products
• Learn to plan and manage the farming of a wide variety of marine life 
• Self paced study, expert tutors, start anytime, 100 hours of learning to give you a sound foundation in marine aquaculture.

The term “Mariculture” refers to a sub-category of Aquaculture that deals specifically with Marine Aquaculture.

According to the FAO the term “Mariculture” (in its present usage) may be defined as:

“The culture of marine organisms, both plants and animals, in an aquatic medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea water mixed to various degrees with fresh water. This definition would include both the sea and inland brackish-water areas. These can be freshwater or salt water organisms, or have development phases in both types of waters.”

 HOME STUDY - NATURAL ANIMAL HEALTH CARE

NOW RECOGNISED BY THE COMPLEMENTARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Treat animal health problems naturally

• Update your knowledge of organic knowledge for the modern world.
• Improve how you run your business.
• Learn about organic farming to improve your career prospects.
• Study in your own time and at your own pace.
• Learn from organic farming experts – our tutors!

Organic farming has distinct advantages, for the environment, for human health, and also for farm economics. There are many definitions of organic farming. A commonly accepted definition is “farming without the addition of artificial chemicals”. All kinds of agricultural products are produced organically – vegetables, fruit, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and fibres such as cotton and wool. Many processed foods are also produced organically (e.g. bread).

Home Study Pasture Management Course

Learn management and repair of pastures

*Learn to improve your pastures in small and large farm enterprises.

*Improve your business/your career prospects in this area.

*Taught and written by experts in the field.

*Study at home at your own pace.

Pastures are critical to many types of farms. Farmers have been known to turn unprofitable farms into commercial successes by simply improving pasture. Whether dealing with small or large properties, pasture management is an important part of many types of farm enterprises. This course is designed to be useful to those already managing existing pastures and those who wish to establish successful new pastures.

Pet care Distance Learning Course

Want to work with pets? Need to know more about caring for pets?

• A course designed to further your knowledge of the care of pets
• Learn how to care for your pets.
• Understand selection, breeding, routine care.
• An excellent qualification for anyone who works with animals or wants to. A great course for people interested in their pets.

Who should do this course?

• Pet Owners
• People who work in pet shops
• People who aspire to work with pets (e.g. as a breeder, in an animal shelter, etc)

Home Study Pigs Course

Develop pig management skills

• Improve your knowledge of pig management.
• Suitable for anyone keeping pigs – commercial, for a hobby and for self-sufficiency.
• Understand pig management.
• Study at your own time in your own home.
• Taught by agricultural experts.

Learn pig management: for commercial production, self sufficiency or as a hobby.  This sound foundation course helps develop a broad understanding of pig biology, management and production. It covers such things as breeding and selection, housing, feeding, pig diseases, boar management, managing the sow and litter, fattening pigs, record keeping and more.

POULTRY DISTANCE - LEARNING COURSE

Learn about the care and management of poultry

• Learn to manage small and large scale poultry and egg production.
• Suitable for farmers, people keeping poultry at home and more.
• Study in your own time and at your own pace.
• Taught and written by poultry experts.

Learn to manage poultry on a small or large scale, for production of eggs, meat or young birds. This course covers all aspects of poultry care and management including: Terminology, Breeds, Nutrition, Diseases in Poultry, Layers, Broilers, Incubation, Brooding, Record Keeping, Economics & Marketing; and is relevant to free range or other forms of production.

Learn sheep care and management

• Improve your knowledge of sheep care and management.
• Improve your job prospects working with sheep.
• Learn from our knowledgeable and experienced agriculture tutors.
• Specially developed course to improve your knowledge of sheep.

Sheep are an important agricultural livestock that are bred for meat and wool worldwide. Careful and informed management of your flock will ensure increased productivity and efficiency. Aimed at professional and amateur graziers, the course provides you with the knowledge to run your sheep effectively and productively and will help you to develop your ability to independently analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of sheep.

ONLINE SOIL MANAGEMENT COURSE

• Understand soil management for profitable farming.

• Learn about problems that can affect soil and how to deal with them.

• Essential for anyone working with the soil.

• Taught and written by experts in the field.

Soil is the foundation for profitable farming. There are many things that can be wrong with soil (e.g. poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, structural problems such as drainage, lack of microbial life etc). Often minor and relatively inexpensive treatments can make a huge difference to productivity, but the problems need to be identified first, and that requires a solid understanding of soil theory and management practice. Learn about soil properties and requirements in agriculture, and how to apply that knowledge at a management level.

Home Study Sustainable Agriculture Course

Prepare for Farming in the Future

Explore and learn the principles and practices of environmental and economic sustainability

• Understand how to develop your produce using sustainable agriculture.

• Develop your knowledge of the underlying principles.

• A must for anyone wanting to develop their farm in an agriculturally sustainable way.

• Taught by highly qualified and experienced tutors.

• Study in your time and at your own pace.

Today the pressure is on for more and more farmers to work towards sustainable systems of farming which produce healthy, nutritious, affordable food and a dependable, secure food supply -without producing a negative impact on the environment. Sustainable farms should protect the environment, preserve open spaces, forests and wildlife and also encourage and conserve biodiversity, plus provide the farmer and farm workers with a good living.

Home Study Weed Control Course

How do I identify and control weeds?

• Understand effective methods of weed control.
• Learn natural and chemical methods of weed control.
• Improve your crops and gardens.
• Study in your own time and at your own pace.
• Taught by experts.

Learn to identify and effectively control weeds. You will learn about both chemical and non-chemical weed control methods (e.g. mulching, burning, slashing), plus the use of spray equipment and operating safety procedures which should be followed when using chemicals and equipment.

Learn online to be a Zoo Keeper

• Study how animals are cared for in zoos, and the way zoos are managed
• Learn animal handling and care; and appreciate the daily tasks that a zoo keeper is involved with
• Improve your prospects for employment or career advancement