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FORAGE MANAGEMENT BAG226

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification To obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Learn to better manage forage resources for both livestock and other animals.

  • For farm animals
  • For wildlife
  • For sustainable ecosystems

To manage forage resources, you need to have a good understanding of both the plants growing in an area, and the animals that graze on those plants. It requires an appreciation of plant and animal ecology and the impacts which man can have on that ecology.

This self-paced 100 hour course will give you a detailed insight into forage management and practices.

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Forage Management Course - Learn to better manage forage resources on farms and in natural landscapes.

  • For farm animals
  • For wildlife
  • To promote and manage sustainable ecosystems

COURSE CONTENT

This course has eight lessons as follows:

Lesson 1. Scope and Nature of Forage Resources
  • Introduction
  • Terminology
  • Types of Forage
  • Types of Forage Lands
  • What different Animals Eat - Avian, Monogastric, Ruminants, Pseudo Ruminant
  • Managing Forage Ecosystems
  • Over grazing
  • Continuous vs Rotational Grazing
  • Ecosystem Health
  • Weed Types
  • Weed Populations
Lesson 2. Grassland Species and Ecosystems
  • Different Ways to Feed Animals
  • Different Fodder Systems
  • Different Fodder Plants - grasses, legumes, roots, wildflowers, forbs
Lesson 3. Fodder Trees and Shrubs
  • Definitions
  • Advantages & Disadvantages of Fodder Trees
  • Using Fodder Trees
  • Harvesting Foliage - pollarding, coppicing, browse blocks, leaf fall, silvopasture systems
  • Criteria for plant selection
  • Financial considerations
  • Considering Tree Species - Acacias, Bamboos, Beech, Black locust, Carob, Honey Locust, Pome Fruits and many more
Lesson 4. Forage Establishment
  • Natural area Grazing
  • Seeding
  • Soil - soil biome, rhizosphere, autotoxicity
  • Weed Management
  • Biodiversity -riparian zone, birds
Lesson 5. Forage Management
  • Regenerative Grazing Management
  • Improving Soil Quality
  • Strategies for Soil Improvement - crop rotation, tillage, zero tillage, fertility testing, soil compaction, soil cover
  • Fertiliser Management
  • NPK
  • Using Legumes
  • Irrigation Management
  • Animal Management
  • Animal Access Management - hedges, wire, barbed wire, electric fence, stone walls, banks/rises, gates, digital fencing tech
  • Controlled Burning
  • Pest and Disease Management
Lesson 6. Forage Quality and Use
  • Understanding Quality -palatability. intake, digestibility. nutrients, anti quality forage, animal performance
  • Composition and Analysis- moisture content, crude protein, fibre, energy, minerals, relative feed value etc
  • Cutting
Lesson 7. Forage (animal) related disorders
  • Recognising ill health
  • Seasonal and Conditional Disorders -bloat, acidosis, nitrate poisoning, prussic acid, grass tetany, phytoestrogens, etc
  • Overgrazing
  • Parasites
  • Worms
  • Species Related Disorders - fescue taxicosis, endophyte toxins, ryegrass staggers, anti quality components, phenolic compounds
  • Seasonal and Conditional Disorders -plant poisoning
  • Disorders Associated with Stored Forages
Lesson 8. Preserving Forage as Hay and Silage
  • Making Hay - curing, weather factors, etc
  • Mowing
  • Conditioning
  • Swathe Manipulation to Speed Drying
  • Hay Storage and Preservation
  • Phases in Silage Fermentation
  • Silage Storage
  • Silage Management

AIMS:

  • Discuss the nature and scope of forage plants eaten by animals, both in captivity and in the wild. 
  • Identify the comparative characteristics of grasses and other low growing fodder plants from different natural and created habitats, including grasses, legumes and forbs.
  • Identify the comparative characteristics of grasses and other low growing fodder plants from different natural and created habitats including a range of trees and shrubs. 
  • Explain how forage plants may be established effectively in a managed pasture.
  • Explain how to manage a landscape to optimise forage production in a way that is sustainable, both economically and environmentally.
  • Explore factors that impact the quantity and quality of forage produced by a landscape and the effect on productivity of forage production. 
  • Identify common problems that can arise in livestock and other animals as a result or the forage/fodder they eat.
  • Harvest and store forage plants for feeding animals after a period of storage.

Why Study Forage Management?

Managing environments and promoting natural ecosystems is key to generating sustainable environmental systems.

  • Gain knowledge and understanding in how to establish forage plants pastures and established landscapes - an important part of the management of lands and their environment.
  • Understand how better to manage pasture to provide all year round grazing and forage, whilst managing soil quality, irrigation, and the access livestock and animals have to these areas.
  • Learn from highly knowledgeable and experienced academics.  Study online or by eLearning- studying whenever and wherever you want.  Enrol today and start learning!

If you have any questions at all, our forage management tutors are more than happy to help.

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Request a course handbook here.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!



Check out our eBooks

Animal Feed & NutritionThe Aniaml Feed and Nutrition ebook is a comprehensive guide to animal feed and the nutritional requirements of different animals.
Farm ManagementThe Farm Management ebook is a valuable piece of equipment for any farming student or current farmer. Improve your farm management skills or learn new skills and techniques. The topics covered within this Farm Management ebook include 1/ Scope and nature of the farm industry, 2/ The farm site, 3/ Production systems, 4/ Managing livestock, 5/ Managing pasture, 6/ Managing crops, 7/ Managing equipment and materials, 8/ Computer applications, 9/ Farm structures and buildings, 10/ Financial management, 11/ Marketing, 12/ Farm planning, 13/ Staff management, 14/ Water management and 15/ Diversification.
Profitable FarmingDiscover new ways to make money from your farm and broaden your perspective on the farming industry. A few things in life are certain; change is inevitable and people need to eat. Learn to embrace change as an opportunity and improve your ability to forge a sustainable career in farming.