VSC115 Pastures and Profits in Grazing Systems (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Animal and Vet Science (ANVET)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
Students of Veterinary Science and the Animal Sciences, other than those studying agronomy as a major interest, require a basic understanding of pasture agronomy, the ecology of pastures and pastures as a source of nutrition for grazing animals. The decisions around grazing management require an understanding of economic principles and the relationship between costs, income from animal production and the optimisation of grazing systems from both a biological and an economic viewpoint. This subject provides an introduction to students to both agronomy and farm economics and financial management in an integrated context, and prepares students for later studies of animal production, nutrition, plant toxicology, and the economics of health management in animal populations.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 2 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Wagga Wagga |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: VSC115
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
Be able to:
Inspect and describe a pasture growing on a farm in southern Australia
Identify the major pasture species
Estimate the nutritive value of a pasture for grazing livestock
Estimate the optimum stocking rate for a pasture in southern Australia
Describe the relationship between stocking rate and profit from grazing enterprises
Create a simple financial statement for a grazing enterprise
Create a decision tree to assist in business management
Use economic tools to evaluate farming and veterinary health interventions and strategies
Review and interpret financial statements, budgets and reports
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Types of pastures in Australia
Establishing a pasture
Pasture growth and development
Nutritive values of pastures
Fodder conservation
Managing grazing livestock
Introduction to Economics
Production, income and costs
Decision Analysis
Introduction to Veterinary Health Economics
Partial Budgets
Analysing a Farm Business
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.