Unit Code: ASP500

Unit Name: Principles of Pasture and Fodder Production

Description: Definition, history ,development of pastures and related terminology;Types of pastures and its distribution around world;Characteristics of tropical pastures species;Pasture establishment- Soil Test, Seed mixtures, Seeding rates, Legume inoculation,Seedbed and Seeding Technique etc.;Pasture Improvement- Improvement Technique, Performance, Goals and Limitations;Grazing Management- Animals selection ,effects of grazing on plants,grazing stems, stocking rate, introducing livestock to pasture and nutritional management;Pasture Costs & Production Charts- Fencing and Cost Considerations for Pasture Reseeding; Adaptation, distribution, varietal improvement, agro-techniques and quality aspects including anti-quality factors of important perennial legumes forage crops like stylo,subabul, Arachis spp,Calopogonium spp.etc.; Adaptation, distribution, varietal improvement, agro-techniques and quality aspects including anti-quality factors of important fodder crops like maize and cowpea;Adaptation, distribution, varietal improvement, agro-techniques and quality aspects including anti-quality factors of important grasses of Fiji- Dicanthium caricosum,Ischaemum indicum,Paspalum conjugatum,Pennisetum polystachyion,Brachiaria decumbens,Setaria and Guinea grasses;Year-round fodder production and management- Fodder crops puero (Pueraria phaseoloides)under coconut.;Principles and methods of hay and silage making; chemical and biochemical changes,nutrient losses and factors affecting quality of hay and silage.

Learning Target Outcomes:

Prerequisite: N/A

Prerequisite Sentence: Student must be enrolled in the programme.

Credit Point: 15

Offered In: Semester 1