Distance Learning Pasture Management Course
Study management and repair of pastures
Every livestock farmer is first and foremost a pasture farmer. He may make use of the natural grasses or he may improve his pastures by planting special grasses. A good farmer recognises the different grasses and understands how to get the best out of them. He will be able to distinguish between desirable and undesirable plants and he will know the grazing habits of his stock.
The whole art of understanding and managing pastures is highly complex because there are so many parts to it and each of these parts constantly change. For example, there are a great many varieties of plants that are used for grazing in any one area. Each plant has its own rhythm and will react differently to environmental conditions and treatment.
Different stock will graze in a variety of ways. Sheep graze close but cannot handle long grass; goats browse on bushes while cattle eat long grass and are not as selective as sheep.
Natural pasture is also constantly changing and developing according to the environment and number and types of animals that graze it. The changes can be good or bad. They are not always noticeable as they can take place very slowly. There is no doubt that man and animals have the ability to make rapid and bad changes to our native pastures.
A further problem is that farmers rarely have one sort of pasture. Most farms will have some natural pasture and some improved pastures. The natural pasture is often a mix of grasses with some grasses suiting one type of animal and others that suit a different type of stock. The improved pastures on a farm are specially planted to provide grazing at various times of the year and so need quite different management.
By understanding all the different parts that affect grassland, a farmer can begin to effectively manage his most important resource - his grazing.
The distribution of pasture species is also limited by various climatic factors particularly:
The soil type and class of land
Temperature
Rainfall
Seasonal variations in the length of daylight
Pastures are critical to many types of farms. Farmers have been known to turn unprofitable farms into commercial successes by simply improving pasture. Whether ydealing with small or large properties, pasture management is an important part of many types of farm enterprises. Learn to evaluate, design and make decisions about the management of pasture for different purposes.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 8 lessons as follows:
1. Introduction to Pastures Pasture Improvement Choosing a Pasture Mix Seed Coating Variety Selection Sustainability Definitions 2. The Pasture Plant Grasses The grass plant Growth and development Phases of development Annual and perennial grasses Carbohydrate sinks The physiology of grasses The structure of grasses Growth habits Legumes 3. Pasture Varieties Introduction to common pasture grasses Identifying grasses Legumes The Importance of Legumes in Pasture Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes The Rhizobium bacteria Common legumes Grasses to Grow With Clovers 4. Site Considerations Managing pastures Choosing the Correct Site for a Pasture Choosing the correct seed mix Seed quality 5. Establishing New Pastures Preparation of the land for pasture Prepared seedbed Sowing Germination Direct drilling Weed control Seeders Grazing new pastures 6. Managing Existing Pastures Native Grasses versus Pasture Carrying Capacity of Native Grasses Stocking Rate of Native Grass Areas The Establishment of the Native Grasslands The developing grasslands How grasslands deteriorate Factors promoting succession or retrogression Limiting factors and terminal plant communities Allogenic Factors Autogenic Factors Rests To Promote Rapid Growth Rests to change the composition of the community Rests designed to eliminate or control bush encroachment Rests to accumulate grazing material Rests to provide out of season fodder Physiological aspects 7. Managing Stock on Pasture Factors affecting food intake by animals Animal factors Feed factors Grazing factors Grazing behaviour Complementary Grazing Rank Order of Dominance Selective Grazing Ruminant Time Herd Group Behaviour Grazing Time Pasture management principles - rest, grazing period, stocking, carrying capacity Equal Utilisation or the Removal of the Top Hamper, paddock size, number in herd etc Grassland management principles - Split - season Systems, Continuous Light Stocking, One Herd, Four Paddock System, Intensive systems etc Horse pastures Food trees and shrubs 8. Pasture Management Work Tasks Fertilizer Pest and weed control Biological control Advantages of Biological Methods Disadvantages of Biological Methods Irrigation Fallowing Cultivation Pasture renovation Managing pasture after drought Managing pasture after fire 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.
AIMS
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 THE COURSE COVERS
Prepare a catalogued resource collection of various 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 different pasture seed mixes according to application, detailing the components of each mix together, commenting on appropriate applications for that mix in the learners locality.
Explain the benefits of seed coating for pasture establishment.
Label parts of a grass plants on unlabelled diagrams
Distinguish between different clover and medic species using illustrations
List different pasture plant varieties suited to the learners locality, including:
grasses
legumes
other fodder plants
Identify different species of plants growing in an established pasture in the learners locality, by labelling a pressed specimen of each.
Submit samples 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 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 different soil cultivation techniques for pasture establishment on a specified site in the learners 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:
Determine sustainable stocking rates of a specified type of animal for different pastures. Specify the pastures and the animals.
Analyse the food value of different pastures.
Compare the grazing behaviour of different farm animals.
Define the concept of palatability of a specific pasture
Determine grazing capacity of a specified paddock.
Evaluate the production performance of two different specified pastures over a 3 year period.
Identify several weeds that are significant problems in pasture
Explain different 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.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
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Sample Course Notes
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How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
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I don’t think this is the right course for me.
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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
Marius Erasmus B.Sc.Agric., B.Sc.(Wildlife), M.Sc.Agric.
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.
