792-181 Pasture Establishment and Production

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• select pasture species and pasture mixes for specific combinations of soil and climate;

• evaluate the role of a species within a pasture mix;

• discuss pasture establishment techniques and strategies;

• discuss strategies for matching pasture production to animal requirements; and

• discuss common methods of fodder conservation and their relative merit.

The content includes recognition of the major temperate climate pasture species, and an appreciation of their climatic and soil requirements; techniques for evaluating pasture production and composition; pasture establishment techniques, pest and weed control; diseases affecting pasture production, and strategies to control them and minimise losses caused by diseases; and the principles and practices of fodder conservation, pasture evaluation, and assessment of the benefits of changing a species or pasture mix within an established pasture.

Assessment

2-hour examination (60%); two assignments of 500 words (20% each).