Module description
Effective grassland management is a key factor in ruminant livestock feeding and production in the UK. This module provides an understanding of the principles of pasture utilisation by grazing and conservation. Students will develop the skills necessary in
order to draw up an annual programme of grassland management for a farm carrying a range of pasture-based livestock enterprises and to evaluate the role of alternative forages to supplement or replace pasture.

Outcomes
Outcome 1

Understand the principles and identify the practices of grazing management

Performance criteria:
a. The role of good grazing management is recognised.
b. The principles of grazing management are explained.
c. Appropriate grazing strategies are selected.

Ranges:
Nutrition, pasture management, parasite control.
Animal behaviour, parasite control, techniques.
Systems.

Outcome 2

Understand the principles and identify the practices of forage conservation.

Performance criteria:
a. The role of good forage conservation management is recognised.
b. The principles of forage conservation management are explained.
c. Appropriate forage conservation strategies and systems are selected.

Ranges:
Nutrition, pasture management, parasite control.
Moisture removal, fermentation.
Systems.

Outcome 3

Plan an annual programme of grassland management for a farm carrying a range of
pasture-based livestock enterprises.

Performance criteria:
a. An establishment's pasture production is evaluated.
b. Appropriate pasture improvement and manuring programmes are selected.
c. Pasture utilisation by grazing and conservation is integrated.

Ranges:
Soil, Climate, pasture composition.
Weed control, management inputs, soil fertility.
System, site, season.

Outcome 4

Plan an integrated programme for utilising forage crops to meet the nutritional
requirements of livestock.

Performance criteria
a. An establishment's pasture production and ability to meet the nutritional requirements
of specified livestock systems is evaluated.
b. Appropriate forage crops to supplement or replace grassland are identified.
c. Pasture and forage crop utilisation by grazing and conservation is integrated.

Ranges:
Soil, climate, pasture composition.
System, site, season.

Outcome 5

Plan a cropping programme for an arable farm.

Performance criteria:
a. The main husbandry points of arable crops are appreciated.
b. The main features of arable area payments and set aside management are appreciated.
c. The principles of sound rotation planning are identified.
d. Rotations are designed in a manner that takes account of financial aspects and the need
to minimise inputs.

Ranges:
Crops: cereals, combinable break crops, potatoes, sugar beet, set-aside.

Outcome 6

Appreciate the value of woodlands, wetlands and field boundaries on farms.

Performance criteria:

a. The importance of these features for wildlife conservation is appreciated.
b. The main options for field boundary management are considered.
c. Objectives for farm woodland management are identified.
d. Sources of advice and finance for these features are identified.

Ranges:
Field boundaries: hedges, walls, banks, ditches, fences, grass striips, sterile strips,
headlands.
Woodlands: broad-leaved, conifer plantations.
Wetlands: ditches, ponds.