Pastoral training courses

The course is designed to help first and second year employees understand the unique environment of the NT.

It also explains how cattle stations adapt management techniques to maintain high levels of productivity in the Victoria River and Barkly Districts.

The course combines both theory and practical sessions. The classroom sessions provide an introduction for the group activities undertaken in the paddock.

The course can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of individual stations, and draws on local research and experience.

Participants learn about the following areas of rangeland managements.

Pasture dynamics

This covers:

• how to identify pasture species
• pasture quality and quantity through the seasons
• the functions of different soil types.

Weed management

This covers:

• how to identify weed
• strategies for weed prevention
• managing and controlling weeds on-station using a case study.

Fire management

Fire can be a threat to livestock and property but if used properly, it can also be a useful land management tool on cattle stations.

Ruminant nutrition

This covers:

• cattle digestive system and nutritional requirements
• supplementation - the how, what and why
• supplementation - associated risks.

Field visits and station infrastructure planning exercise

This involves a visit to the paddock to discuss the:

• identification of pasture species
• nutritional comparison - what’s needed and what’s supplied by native pastures
• pasture and land condition monitoring.

It also includes a group exercise in the classroom to plan a station, incorporating all the issues discussed during the day.

Who to contact

To organise this course for your employees, contact:

Eleanor Fordyce
Pastoral Extension Officer
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
eleanor.fordyce@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8973 9730

This stock course is designed to help first and second year employees carry out tasks related to stock movement, management and nutrition required to maintain high levels of productivity in the Victoria River and Barkly Districts.

The course can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of individual stations and draws on local research and experience.

Participants learn about the following areas of stock handling and management.

Ruminant nutrition

This covers:

• how pasture quality interacts with cattle performance
• the mechanisms used by cattle to extract nutrients from pasture
• the basics of cattle supplementation.

Reproduction and genetics

This covers:

• the reproductive management of females
• managing bulls for optimal calf output
• using genetics to drive herd progression.

Animal health

This covers:

• what animal diseases are
• the difference between an endemic, exotic, and emergency animal diseases
• the different types of disease and how they're transmitted
• the importance of your role in the early detection of diseases
• what the common diseases of cattle and horses in the NT are
• the symptoms of these diseases
• how to prevent or treat these diseases.

Animal welfare

This covers:

• what animal welfare is
• the importance and impact of good animal welfare
• what your legal obligations are
• how you can practise good animal welfare.

Live export

This covers:

• why we export live cattle
• the live export supply chain
• how pre-export handling affects cattle during the voyage.

Preparing cattle for meatworks

This covers the:

• major meat quality problems for meatworks cattle
• financial implications of poor handling on meatworks cattle.

Movements and paperwork

This covers:

• what paperwork and procedures are required for different livestock movements
• why paperwork and procedures are required for different livestock movements.

Horse health and nutrition

This covers the:

• nutritional requirements of horses in the NT
• dental and hoof care requirements of horses in the NT
• common diseases of horses in the NT
• diseases and symptoms
• prevention and treatment of diseases.

Who to contact

To organise this course for your employees, contact:

Eleanor Fordyce
Pastoral Extension Officer
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
eleanor.fordyce@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8973 9730

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) holds a range of practical workshop sessions and learning opportunities to help you gain knowledge and develop skills to improve your livestock enterprises.

To find out what courses or training is available in your area, go to the MLA website.