Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
The focus of this unit is on grazing systems that produce healthy animals and high quality products using the principles of clean, green and ethical animal production. Topics include the efficiency of feed utilisation, matching feed supply to animal needs to improve reproductive efficiency, benefits of plant diversity and how grazing behaviour and learned responses of animals can be used to manage diversity. There is a focus on the ability of grazing systems to be profitable but also contribute to healthy landscapes through the use of novel plants to improve water use, nutrient flows and soil erosion, and animal health through the provision of shade, shelter, control of gastrointestinal nematodes and reduced methane production for livestock. The unit consists of three blocks of two-day sessions (including a field trip to the UWA Future Farm at Pingelly). This unit is essential for all students interested in a career in agricultural science, meeting the challenge of developing profitable production systems and managing risk in the face of increased climate variability. It is also relevant for students with an interest in natural resource management.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) understand how soils, water, animals, plants and livestock interact in a grazing system; (2) know how grazing systems can be managed to improve livestock production in an environmentally sustainable way; (3) gain experience with identifying components of a grazing system in the field; (4) write a consultancy report; (5) present an oral presentation to the class; and (6) demonstrate critical thinking at a farming systems scale.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) field trip attendance; (2) consultancy report; and (3) oral presentation on report. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Professor Philip Vercoe
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment in
- Contact hours
- total workload: 150 hours
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.