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Ecology and Grazing Management (AGRI20036)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and On Campus (Dookie)

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Summer Term, January and February subjects, where the teaching ends prior to the commencement of Semester 1, 2023, will be taught on campus with some subjects offered in dual-delivery and online modes.
From Semester 1, 2023 our undergraduate programs will be delivered on campus. Graduate programs will mainly be delivered on campus, with dual-delivery and online options available to a select number of subjects within some programs.
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Overview

Availability
Semester 2 - On Campus
Semester 2 - On Campus
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Pastures and grasslands comprise the dominant vegetation cover across the Australian continent. The way pastures and grasslands are managed is therefore central to the sustainable use of natural resources such as soil and water, as well as the economic development of the pasture-based livestock industries (meat and wool sheep, beef cattle, and dairy).

This subject will include:

  • An overview of Australia's pasture and grassland resources
  • The population biology of pasture plants, including the growth cycles of annual and perennial plants, and pathways of plant survival
  • The major pasture plant species and pasture types, their agronomic and adaptive characteristics and management requirements
  • Pasture improvement principles and practices
  • Plant and pasture growth processes influencing the accumulation of yield in pastures, and implications for management
  • The feeding and nutritive value of pastures and factors affecting animal intake
  • The principles and practices of grazing management

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic ecology and agronomy of pasture and grassland communities and the factors that influence yield of a grazed pasture
  • Analyse the different principles underlying efficient pasture and grazing management, and the practices required for sustainable production from grazing systems
  • Define and articulate the importance of seasonality in pasture production, and its consequences for the management of grazing systems
  • Demonstrate knowledge in the application of practical tools and skills required for the efficient management of grazing systems
  • Critically evaluate data and techniques that help identify solutions in the management of grazing systems

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:

  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • Capacity to tackle unfamiliar problems
  • Ability to think systemically and integrate knowledge from different disciplines
  • Communication skills, through written and oral presentations
  • Quantitative analysis skills
  • Sense of intellectual curiosity

Last updated: 24 January 2023