Beef Cattle Management

DESCRIPTION

Beef up on industry knowledge and experience.

This course is designed to help producers analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of beef cattle. After completing the course you should be able to describe and explain the principles and practices of beef cattle husbandry and management. Topics covered include beef breeds, production systems, breeding programs, diseases, nutrition, herd management, economics and marketing.

To be able to analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of beef cattle. You should be able to describe and explain the principles and practices of beef cattle husbandry and management.

LESSON STRUCTURE

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Beef Production and Beef Cattle Breeds
2. Beef Cattle Production Systems
3. Beef Cattle Breeding
4. Diseases in Beef Cattle (Viral and Bacterial)
5. Diseases in Beef Cattle (Parasites, etc.)
6. Nutrition for Beef Cattle
7. Commercial Herd Management
8. Feed Lot Management
9. Stud Herd Management
10. Management, Economics and Marketing

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

AIMS

Describe the nature and scope of Beef Cattle Production.

Compare different beef production systems

Discuss beef cattle breeding and its significance to production.

Develop a sound, but general introduction to animal health.

Describe significant parasites that infect cattle and determine appropriate management of these and related problems.

Recommend appropriate provision of feed for commercial beef production.

Develop a management strategy for a commercial beef herd.

Explain feed lot management for beef production.

Explain Stud herd management for beef production.

Determine significant management requirements for a beef production enterprise, in order to attain and sustain a viable economic performance

WHAT YOU WILL DO

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

Choose two 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

Attempt to determine the nature and scope of beef cattle breeding in your 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 (eg. dips, medicines etc) are available

Describe a significant viral disease, including its identification, symptoms and control

DELIVERY

Correspondence

Online