The livestock sector plays an important part in the agricultural economy.
Educated, enthusiastic livestock owners who understand agribusiness and the related methods to reduce their risks, are key to sustainable livestock farming and will play a vital role in supporting and enhancing sustainable agriculture and food security.
Herd Health
Establish a sound health programme. Vaccines and medicines, with improved production practices including advanced techniques and devices will assist with the prevention of diseases and optimizing the efficiency of feed-to-meat conversion.
- Anthrax
- Animal Examination
- Antibiotics 1 (Herd Health Programme)
- Antibiotics 2 (Product Storage)
- Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)
- Calf health 1
- Clinical Evaluation
- Diagnosing Preventing liver Flukes
- External Parasites (Immunisation 1)
- External Parasites (Immunisation 3)
- Fertility Bulls
- Gall Sickness
- Herd Health (Young Calves)
- Immunisation 2
- Immunisation process
- Internal Parasites (Clostridial Disease 1)
- Internal Parasites (Liver fluke 1)
- Internal Parasites (Roundworm 1)
- Lumpy Skin Disease
- Practical Tick Control
- Respiratory disease 1
- Rift Valley fever
- Vaccination Administration 1
- Vaccination Management 1
- Biosecurity (Management Practices)
- Biosecurity strategies
- Biosecurity
- Bovine Tuberculosis
- Calf Diarrhea
- Calf health 2 (Colostrum Immunity)
- Clostridial disease
- Dipping
- External Parasites (Immunisation 2)
- External Parasites 1
- Fertility Cows
- Herd Health (Calves Feedlot)
- Immunisation 1
- Immunisation 3
- Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
- Internal Parasites (Clostridial Disease 2)
- Internal Parasites (Liver fluke 2)
- Internal Parasites (Roundworm 2)
- Parasite management
- Red water
- Respiratory Disease 2
- Three-Day-Stiffsickness Disease
- Vaccination Administration 2
- Vaccination Management 2
Expected outcomes:
Have a better understanding of the importance of having a healthy herd including the following aspects:
- The role and importance of biosecurity
- Animal Examination
- Antibiotics 1 (Herd Health Programme)
- Antibiotics 2 (Product Storage)
All of this to underline the effect on effective and sustainable beef production
Management
The implementation of a sound beef management system is essential for sustainable beef production.
- Age determination
- Body Condition Scoring
- Buying a bull
- Castration 1
- Composition of the herd
- Culling
- Extensive vs Intensive farming
- Handling facilities – the crush
- Identification
- Marketing 2
- Marketing 4
- Phenotype-based selection
- Replacement heifers 2
- Selecting a bull and cow
- Weaner Production (Weaning Weight)
- Weaner Production (Weaning of Calves)
- Weaner Production (Heifer and Bull Calves)
- Weaning Mass 2 - Contributing factors
- Age of your animals
- Bull selection
- Bull testing
- Castration 2
- Cow factors
- Dehorning
- Fertility of bulls and cows
- Identification and branding
- Marketing 1
- Marketing 3
- Non pregnant cows
- Replacement heifers 1
- Selecting a bull Physical Traits
- Selection
- Weaner Production (Management Actions)
- Weaner Production (Weaning Index)
- Weaning Mass 1 - Importance
- Weaning of Calves
Expected outcomes:
Have a better understanding of the important aspects of beef herd management to ensure sustainable beef production including the following:
- Identification and branding
- The importance of handling facilities
- Selecting bulls and cows
- Fertility testing
- Managing replacement heifers
- Culling
- Weaner production
- Marketing
Nutrition
An understanding of basic nutrition requirements is essential as proper nutrition of beef cattle is vital for sustainable and successful production.
- Finishing weaners in a feedlot 1
- Finishing weaners in a feedlot 3
- Heifer nutrition 1
- Heifer nutrition 3
- Types of Feed (Crop Remains)
- Types of Feed (Dry Material, Fibre)
- Types of Feed (Energy 1)
- Types of Feed (Gracing)
- Types of Feed (Natural proteins)
- Types of Feed (Sour Veld)
- Water Intake
- Water Supply
- Weaner feed requirements for the market 2
- Weaner Nutritional Feed Requirements
- Finishing weaners in a feedlot 2
- First calve heifers
- Heifer nutrition 2
- Nutrition of Cows
- Types of Feed (Cultivated pastures)
- Types of Feed (Dry Roughage)
- Types of Feed (Energy 2)
- Types of Feed (Natural Pastures)
- Types of Feed (Silage)
- Types of Feed (Straw and Chaff)
- Water Requirements
- Weaner feed requirements for the market 1
- Weaner feed requirements for the market 3
Expected outcomes:
Have a better understanding of the important aspects of beef herd nutrition requirements to ensure sustainable beef production including the following:
- The different production systems
- The types of feed
- The different nutritional requirements of the herd
- The important role water supply plays