NES3007 : Forage Utilization
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Mr Simon Parker
- Lecturer: Dr Hannah Davis
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To encourage students to develop detailed understanding of factors affecting the efficiency of utilisation of fresh and conserved forages by ruminant livestock through a pragmatic, applied learning milieu in which candidates are presented with scenario-based issues facing the forage manager and are required to use prior learning and recent research to develop strategies for utilisation improvement
Outline Of Syllabus
• The interaction between forage production, grazing systems and utilization.
o Factors affecting the efficiency of grazing: forage availability, forage quality, grazing behaviour,
practical grazing systems.
• Use of supplements at grass and conserved feeds.
• Clamp and Bale Silage; Hay.
o Forage conservation improvement including additives
o Mechanical and physical treatment of forages
o Reduction of losses in field and in store
• Factors affecting silage utilisation; uptake and animal performance intake;
• forage DM composition & quality – forage analysis interpretation
• Alternative forages; straw, whole-crop cereals, brassicas.
• Maize agronomy, production and margins
• Allocation of forage costs and forage gross margin distribution (to include grass and alternative
forage)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Classroom lectures present in person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Prep in advance of the Consultants Field visit to assess forage production, utilisation & efficiency |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Pre-and post-lecture activities involving development of the themes discussed |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 3 | 6:00 | 18:00 | Visit to 3 host farms at which the production, utilisation and management of forage are examined. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Post visit review of the detail gathered, sharing of information and ensuring info for report |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 23 | 1:00 | 23:00 | Reading and research associate with the module, inc element of ACE2019 resources and prior learning |
| Guided Independent Study | Online Discussion | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Shadows cut and online and with tutor input to develop themes |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are aimed at developing knowledge outcomes 1 to 7 and skills outcome 2, these will involve formal teaching, discussion and interactive seminar sessions; each seminar will involve the development of applied skills in the resolution of problems encountered in forage management, these will require the candidates identify problem, recent associated research and identify appropriate recommendations.
The study visit will enable students to achieve skills outcome 2
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 100 | A recommendation report written to present to a farmer, showing opportunities for improved forage utilisation |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The consultancy report will require the candidate has a current applied understanding of recent research developments to be able to apply that knowledge in a consultancy capacity. This synoptic assessment is designed to require candidates to demonstrate skills in analysis, synthesis and knowledge transfer presentation; having visited a host farm they will utilise their learning from this and previous stage 1 & 2 modules to produce a report that advises the host on appropriate strategies to improve forage utilisation.
Each candidate will also have an assessed discussion of strategies that were considered and dismissed and opportunity to explain the justification of the approaches that are included.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES3007's Timetable