AGR356 Grazing Management (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies (AGHOR)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
This subject will review in-depth, current research on the integration between pasture plants, grazing animals, climate and soils that underpin the successful development of sustainable grazing ecosystems. Students will integrate and synthesise knowledge across disciplines to assess how to appraise, plan and manipulate alternative grazing systems to meet management requirements in a sustainable manner.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2013.Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: AGR356
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Assumed Knowledge:
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
Be able to identify and explain the key features influencing major grazing systems and interpret their impacts on farms and within the neighbouring landscape
Be ble to analyse what determines and regulates the patterns of forage supply for various pasture systems
Be able to ascertain and evaluate the factors that influence the seasonal nutritional demand of grazing animals
Be able to evaluate the management considerations necessary for the use of fodder supplements including forage crops and conserving fodder
Be able to compile and justify strategies for managing surplus/deficit situations to achieve predetermined objectives
Be able to use decision support systems to evaluate alternative strategies for managing supply and demand in livestock enterprises
Be able to evaluate the impact on pasture ecosystems of inappropriate management and adverse climatic events
Be able to integrate information to critique the sustainability (economic, biophysical and social) of grazing systems.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Management of pastures as ecosystems - plant and animal community behaviour Pasture supply and the factors affecting it Livestock grazing behaviour Livestock nutritional requirements and estimating standard livestock units Feed profiling and budgeting pasture supply and demand - quantity, quality, seasonality Pasture improvement, supplementary feeding and interactions with forage crops, pastures, stocking rates, and opportunity feed-lotting Animal and human health issues from livestock-plant interactions Evaluation of alternative grazing management systems Planning and manipulation of systems, including use of decision support packages Management of pastures for adverse natural and man-influenced impacts Design and management of sustainable grazing systems - economics, biophysical and social factors Integration of information at a farm and landscape scale, including within cropping rotations and dealing with a systems approach to weed management
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.