COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
Course Duration: 100 hours.
Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.
Lessons: The course comprises 9 lessons as detailed, below.
Lesson 1. Introduction to Beef Cattle and Beef Cattle Breeds
The role of beef cattle in agriculture; Scientific classification; Examples of breeds worldwide; British Beef breeds - Angus, Hereford, South Devon, Sussex, Red Poll; U.S. Developed Beef breeds - Santa Gertrudis, American Brahman, Amerifax, Beefmaster; European Beef breeds - Salers, Charolais, Simmental, Gelbvieh; Australian Beef breeds - Braford, Beefmaster, Droughtmaster, Murray Grey, Australian Lowline; South African Beef Breeds - Salorn, Tswana, Tuli, Afrikander; Breed selection c0nsiderations - horned vs poll, colour, gestation length, birth weight, mothering ability, post weaning growth, meat quality etc.
Lesson 2. Beef Cattle Production Systems
Various systems of production - extensive, intensive, semi-intensive; Choosing a suitable system - considerations include size, climate, soils, transport, markets etc; Cattle handling facilities; Materials used in cattle handling; Cattle identification - branding, ear marking, tattooing, ear tags; De-horning - chemical and mechanical; Castration, dips and dipping, and injecting cattle.
Lesson 3. Beef Cattle Breeding
Heritability, performance testing, progeny testing, selection; Pure versus cross breeding - advantages and disadvantages; Calving percentage; Management factors to improve calving percentage; Weaning Calves; Factors affecting calf weaning; The anatomy of the male reproductive system; The physiology of the male reproductive system; Fertility problems in the male; The anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system; Fertility problems; Pregnancy and parturition; The structure of the mammary glands; Secretion of milk; Growth and development; Post-natal growth; Compensatory growth.
Lesson 4. Diseases in Beef Cattle (Viral and Bacterial)
Determining health status of the animal; Signs of a healthy animal; Causes of ill-health; Injury, poor nutrition, poisoning, parasites, hereditary conditions etc; Preventing ill-health; Correct feed and nutrition, insect control, parasite control, vaccinations, control stress etc.
Lesson 5. Parasitic and Other Diseases in Beef Cattle
Some parasitic diseases; Other ailments of cattle - actinobacillosis, anaplasmosis, arthritis, beef measles; Poisoning, Pink eye, Milk fever, bloat etc.
Lesson 6. Nutrition in Beef Cattle
Feed type - Roughages and concentrates; Carbohydrates, protein, fats; Grass or grain feeding; Rations for beef cattle - maintenance or production rations; Maintenance rations; Procedure for calculating a ration; Supplementary feeding of protein; Lot; Feeding; Minerals; Common macromineral deficiencies; Common trace mineral deficiencies; Diagnosis of trace mineral deficiencies; Vitamins; Water for farm animals; Protein.
Lesson 7. Commercial Herd Management
The breeding herd; Production systems; Cow-calf herd; Beef production systems using dairy stock.
Lesson 8. Feed Lot Management
Lot feeding - types of feedlot; Managing cattle in a feedlot; Feedlot Records; Article on pen feeding in South Africa.
Lesson 9. Stud Herd Management
Time of calving; Feeding; Fertility; Indicators of fertility in bulls; Indicators of fertility in cows; Management, Economics and Marketing; Profitability; Factors affecting gross output; Factors affecting variable costs.
LEARNING AIMS AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THE BEEF CATTLE COURSE
- Visit a range of enterprises which may include farms, agricultural shows, and suppliers of farm products in order to research, photograph, describe and specify facilities in the places visited as a basis, or part basis, of assignment questions.
- Identify beef cuts on a labelled diagram of a steer's body.
- Judge a beef animal according to commonly recognised commercial standards.
- Identify breeds suitable for beef production in specified climates.
- Observe and report on common cattle husbandry tasks, including dehorning, castration, dipping, vaccination, and drenching.
- Explain methods that are used to control beef cattle movements.
- Prepare a production schedule or timetable of husbandry practices for a typical beef cattle property in your locality for a period of 12 months.
- Determine the nature and scope of beef cattle breeding a particular state or country.
- Explain the differences between and advantages of pure breeding and cross breeding.
- Describe and explain management and other factors that can affect calving percentage and calf weaning.
- Visit a supplier of health care treatments for cattle to determine what products (e.g. dips, medicines etc.) are available.
- Describe a significant viral disease, including its identification, symptoms and control.
- Interview someone working in the industry to determine the significance and nature of disease problems in beef cattle.
- List parasites and related organisms that are significant to beef cattle in your region.
- Report on the preferred food requirements for beef cattle on a beef property.
- Explain common health problems affecting animals, including the circumstances under which animals contract health problems, and methods used to prevent the development of ill health.
- Analyse physical indicator symptoms of ill health in animals.
- Explain diagnosis of main types of animal pathogenic microorganisms.
- Explain the methods used in the treatment of pests and diseases in farm animals.
- Explain the role of inflammation, including its symptoms and causes, in animals.
- Determine the taxonomic class of animal pests and diseases.
- Explain the biological processes which affect and control the immune system in animals.
- Explain the biological processes which affect and control tissue repair in animals.
- Determine procedures for the management of wounds to animals, on a farm.
- Explain the processes involved in cellular change in animals.
- Diagnose simple health problems in farm animals.
- Develop guidelines for assessing general signs of ill health in beef cattle.
- List minimum equipment required to run a commercial beef cattle property.
- Equipment will include suitable machinery and tools.
- Distinguish between bulls, heifers and calves.
- Describe three diseases affecting feedlot cattle.
- List criteria for selecting cattle for a feedlot and state what characteristics of the cattle should be considered.
- Compare the management of beef cattle in feedlot with the management in a paddock.
- Explain the management of a stud beef herd on a property you visited.
- Explain the legal requirements and regulations concerning beef cattle.
- Distinguish the following terms of grades of beef: prime, choice, good, standard, etc.
Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.
Each lesson includes set tasks, and is completed with an assignment which the student submits to their course tutor. The tutor will mark the assignment and return this to the student with comments and suggestions for further reading.
Who Should Study This Course?
This course is suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about beef cattle, such as:
- Farmers
- Farm workers
- Smallholders
- Animal rescue staff
- Veterinarians
- Veterinary nurses and assistants
- Animal health experts
ANY QUESTIONS?
Our Beef Cattle tutors are knowledge and happy to answer any questions you may have about the course.