Pastoral training courses

If you're a pastoralist in the Northern Territory (NT), you can work with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to tailor a training course for your employees.

Read the courses below for more information.

Rangeland management course

The rangeland management course:

• is designed to help first and second year station employees understand the unique environment of the NT
• explains how cattle stations adapt pasture management techniques to maintain high levels of productivity
• combines both theory and practical sessions - classroom sessions provide an introduction for the group activities undertaken in the paddock
• can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of individual stations, and draws on local research and experience
• is offered in the Big Rivers, Barkly and Central Australia regions.

Learning outcomes

Participants learn a variety of rangeland and cattle management topics, including:

• pasture dynamics:
  • how to identify pasture species
  • pasture quality and quantity through the seasons
  • the functions of different soil types
• weed management:
  • how to identify weeds
  • strategies for weed prevention
  • managing and controlling weeds on-station
• fire management - a useful land management tool on cattle stations
• ruminant nutrition:
  • cattle digestive system and nutritional requirements
  • supplementation - the how, what and why
  • supplementation - associated risks
• practical activities 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.

Contact

To organise this course for your employees, email the pastoral extension team at Livestock.Extension@nt.gov.au.

Meat and Livestock Australia courses

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.