Course coordinator
Please contact me by email (shane.campbell@uq.edu.au) if you would like to make an appointment to see me.
Advanced coverage of important topics in tropical & subtropical pasture science including pasture plant improvement, pasture plant adaptation, yield & ecology of sown pastures, carrying capacity, pasture sampling, role of pastures & fodder crops in sustainable agriculture & livestock production, environmental issues. Practicals & field trips.
Evidence of immunity to Q fever is mandatory for the In Person offering of this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
The principal objective of Pasture Science and Management is to give students an appreciation and understanding of the important topics in tropical pasture science. The course focuses on the significance of improved pasture to the grazing industry, and the science of sown tropical pasture production. Topics covered include the value of improved pastures to the economy and environment; pasture plant improvement; pasture sampling; pasture yield,ᅠecology and carrying capacity under grazing; horses and pastures; pasture establishment, role of pastures and livestock in sustainable agriculture; and current issues such as pasture dieback.ᅠ
This course has mandatory immunisation requirements due to an increased risk of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) for students working with animals or in agricultural environments. Students will be asked to provide evidence of immunity to Q fever via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
High School or First Year University Biology,ᅠinterest in pastures and animal production through previous coursework or experience.
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
AGRC3006
In Person offering restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements.
Please contact me by email (shane.campbell@uq.edu.au) if you would like to make an appointment to see me.
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Students, please note that you should refer to the Learning Activities summary in this course profile which outlines your course of study for this semester.
The timetable for lectures will be placed on the Blackboard site.ᅠLectures in PowerPoint will also be placed on the Blackboard site for the benefit of all students.
Assessment should be submitted through the online Blackboard site via Turnitin.
In Semester 2 2024, lectures will be runᅠon campus. All lectures will be recorded and loaded on the Blackboard site.
There are two public holidays in semester two - 12/08/2024ᅠEKKA public holiday for Gatton and 07/10/2024ᅠKing's Birthday publicᅠholiday.
ᅠ
The principal purpose of Pasture Science & Managementᅠis to give students an appreciation and understanding of the important topics in pasture science. The course focuses on the significance and science of sown tropical pasture production for animal production and the environment. The course is especially relevant to animal science students interested in ruminant production as pastures are the major feed base and production system for ruminants.ᅠ
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the principles and risks associated with pasture plant introduction and improvement
LO2.
Develop recommendations of suitable pastures for landholders to grow based on their particular circumstances
LO3.
Identify factors affecting yield and ecology of sown pastures under grazing and be able to estimate pasture growth and carrying capacity
LO4.
Compare and analyse different pasture sampling and monitoring techniques
LO5.
Explain the role of pastures in sustainable livestock production and in crop-livestock systems
LO6.
Develop strategies to improve pasture resources in tropical environments and to overcome pasture production issues (e.g. seed production, establishment)
LO7.
Critique available literature on topical issues associated with pasture science and management and formulate key recommendations
Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
---|---|---|---|
Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Case study
|
15% |
6/09/2024 2:00 pm |
Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Pasture sampling assignment
|
20% |
4/10/2024 2:00 pm |
Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Literature review
|
25% |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
Examination |
Final Exam
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
6/09/2024 2:00 pm
Case Study - 2024
A landholder near Clifton is wanting to establish an improved pasture in a 60-hectare paddock, for the purpose of fattening beef cattle. For those who do not know where Clifton is, it is a small town in the Darling Downs Region, about 50 km south of Toowoomba and 150 km west of Brisbane.
The paddock has been cultivated to prepare a favourable seedbed and there are no trees. Using the Pastures Australia Selection Tool (https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/pastures/index.htm) make a recommendation on what would be a suitable pasture mix for planting, from a suitability and productivity perspective. The pasture mix should contain two pasture grasses and two legumes. Before making your recommendations double check the website of two pasture seed suppliers (Barenbrug Seeds – see their Tropical Pastures Guide https://barenbrug.com.au/international/brochures-publications, DLF Seeds https://www.dlfseeds.com.au/products/tropical-subtropical ) to ensure seeds of the pasture species are commercially available for growing in Australia.
Consider the following parameters associated with the location and characteristics of the paddock:
In your response:
You must reference all sources in text and provide a reference list (recommend using APA 7th referencing style) at the end of your assignment. No marks will be given for copied materials. Word Length should not exceed 1500 words exclusive of references.
Please note: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Assignments should be submitted via the Turnitin link in Blackboard by the assigned due date.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 21 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
4/10/2024 2:00 pm
Pasture Sampling Exercise 2024
Students enrolled in the internal mode in Semester 2 will conduct a pasture sampling exercise during a class directed practical. If possible, external students are welcome to attend the sampling practical. Data from the practical will be provided to all students via Blackboard.
Method
Students are required to work in small groups to estimate the yield and botanical composition of a pasture using different sampling methods. Specifically, you are required to:
Calculations
Calculations will be discussed in class and will include (a) Determining whether enough samples (i.e. quadrats) were taken to accurately measure the yield of pasture using both the visual score and rising plate methods, (b) quantifying and comparing the yield and botanical composition of the pastures using two techniques, and (3) determining the carrying capacity.
Report submission
Please note: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Turnitin: You must submit your Assessment task via the Turnitin link in Blackboard by the submission deadline.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 21 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
Literature review
Provide a detailed review of literature on 'Different grazing strategies used for livestock production in Australia’.
Your literature review must:
Only use references published from 2000 onwards and while the literature review has an Australian focus, relevant international articles can be utilised if they provide compelling information to support your review.
You must reference all sources in text and provide a reference list (recommend using APA 7th referencing style) at the end of your assignment. No marks will be given for copied materials. Word Length should not exceed 2500 words exclusive of references.
Please note: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Turnitin: You must submit your Assessment task via the Turnitin link in Blackboard by the submission deadline.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 21 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
The exam may have questions on any aspect of the course. More details will be given later in the semester using the Blackboard website.
The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in Internal delivery must attend the exam in person.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Planning time | 10 minutes |
---|---|
Duration | 120 minutes |
Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
Exam platform | Paper based |
Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
You may be able to defer this exam.
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
Grade | Description |
---|---|
1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35% - 46% |
3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% |
4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Course Grading and Assessment Hurdles:ᅠ
Students must pass theᅠexam to pass theᅠcourse.ᅠ
To achieve a grade of 4 or higher for this course you must achieve a cumulative mark for all assessment of 50% or greater and a passing mark in the end of semester exam.ᅠ
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the final exam and the student does NOT score a passing mark in the final exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
TurnitinᅠAssignmentsᅠᅠ
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site. If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ᅠᅠ
Please note the following points when writing assignments:
Resultsᅠ
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability for progressive assessment will be announced via the course Blackboard site.ᅠ
Re-mark Applicationsᅠ– refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Mid-Semester Examinations)
Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website
ᅠ
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
AGRC3006/AGRC7051 course blackboard site: blackboard is the main method of course communication http://learn.uq.edu.au/
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
---|---|---|
Lecture |
Week 1: An overview of pastures in Australia We will discuss the significance of pastures in a global and Australian context, introduce you to four major livestock production systems that utilise pastures and some of the major vegetation communities that support pastures. |
|
Lecture |
Week 2: The value of improved pastures We will discuss (a) the importance of improved pastures and why we introduce them, (b) early plant introductions, (c) reasons for success and (d) hazards of introduction. |
|
Lecture |
Week 3: Pasture plant introduction and improvement We will discuss (a) the origins and classification of pastures, (b) plant introduction and evaluation, (c) plant introduction versus plant breeding and (d) release of new varieties. |
|
Practical |
Week 3: Tropical forages database practical You will be introduced to two pasture selection tools (Tropical Forages Database and Pastures Australia Selection Tool) that can be used to help select pasture species based on the situation where a landholder wants to plant a new pasture (e.g. soil type, rainfall). You will then use the Pastures Australia Selection Tool to complete the Case Study. |
|
Lecture |
Week 4: Pasture species Learn about a range of improved pasture grasses and legumes including their distribution, strengths and limitations. Note as there is a public holiday this week the lectures will be pre-recorded and loaded in Blackboard. |
|
Lecture |
Week 5: Yield and ecology We will discuss the factors that affect pasture production, such as temperature, weather and management practices (e.g. fertiliser applications). |
|
Practical |
Week 5: Pasture sampling exercise Learn how to sample the yield and botanical composition of pastures using different techniques and to calculate stocking rates. |
|
Lecture |
Week 6: Remote sensing for pasture monitoring Guest lecturer Phill Tickle from Cibolabs will discuss how remote sensing can be used to help landholders determine paddock yields for calculating stocking rates. |
|
Lecture |
Week 7: Pasture rundown Dr Gavin Peck from QDAF will introduce you to the concept of pasture rundown, including what causes it and what are some of the mitigation strategies that can be used. |
|
Practical |
Week 7: Analysis of pasture sample data This session will go through the analysis needed to complete the pasture sampling exercise. |
|
Lecture |
Week 8: Pasture growth and carrying capacity We will discuss pasture growth and carrying capacity, including (a) the principles of stocking rate management, (b) pasture growth rates, (c) pasture utilisation, (d) sustainable carrying capacity, and monitoring tools for estimating pasture yields. |
|
Practical |
Week 8: Visit lucerne enterprise Learn from an experienced farmer about growing lucerne for hay production. |
|
Lecture |
Week 9: Pasture quality and pasture weeds We will discuss (a) a range of factors that influence pasture quality for livestock production and (b) the issue of weeds in pastures. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Mid-Semester Break |
|
Not Timetabled |
Mid-Semester Break |
|
Lecture |
Week 10: Integrated cropping and livestock systems Guest lecturer Dr Lindsay Bell from CSIRO will discuss (a) integrating pastures in cropping systems as well as (b) building integrated forage-based feed systems. |
|
Practical |
Week 10: Visit Barenbrug Seeds Visit one of the largest producers of pasture seed in Australia and globally. |
|
Lecture |
Week 11: Horses and pastures This lecture will focus on horses and how they differ from ruminants in terms of pasture requirements and utilisation. Note as there is a public holiday this week the lectures will be pre-recorded and loaded in Blackboard. |
|
Lecture |
Week 12: Pasture establishment The establishment phase is one of the most challenging aspects of growing improved pastures and we will discuss key considerations to maximise the likelihood of success. We will also present a case study on leucaena to show the level of management required to successfully establish this difficult to establish species. |
|
Practical |
Week 12: Dairy pasture research The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) Dairy Research Team will discuss different grazing strategies to maximise milk production and show you a current trial being undertaken. |
|
Lecture |
Week 13: Exam review and pasture dieback Dr Anthony Young will provide a lecture on pasture dieback a phenomenon that is having a major impact on livestock producers in Queensland. Afterwards I will provide a review of the course and provide some guidance to help you prepare for the exam. |
|
Practical |
Week 13: Visit a livestock enterprise We will visit a property near Toogoolawah that is run by Amanda Roughan and her family. They have a mixture of native and improved pastures and utilise time controlled grazing. They also do some innovative practices like sowing temperate forages into the subtropical pastures to get some winter feed. |
|
Not Timetabled |
Revision |
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
Student Immunisation Requirements:
The University's Vaccinations and Immunisation Procedure provides information about immunisation and screening requirements related to programs and courses. Failure to comply with student immunisation requirements can lead to an increased risk of serious illness occurring.
Therefore, noncompliance will result in the relevant course/s being dropped from your enrolment under the Enrolment Procedure: ‘Provisional and Effective Enrolment in a Course’ provisions (clauses 29-38).