Dairy Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 170 hours.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Health requirements

Q Fever

Students enrolling in this subject are advised that some courses of study may put them at an increased risk of contracting Q Fever. Q Fever is a relatively common preventable condition which, while rarely fatal, can cause a severe acute illness and can result in damage to heart valves and chronic fatigue. It is recommended that students consider undertaking screening and vaccination for Q Fever prior to commencement of study. Students may be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to undertaking some coursework. Your course coordinator will advise you of this requirement prior to commencement of the study semester. Vaccine costs for students are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, Medicare, or by the University. Some students with full private medical coverage (which has hospital and ancillary cover) may receive partial re-imbursement for vaccine costs.

The Australian dairy industry has the third highest gross value of production of all the primary industries. Dairying is largely concentrated in Victoria (65% of total national production), and uses pasture as the main feed source for lactating animals. Dairy businesses are under increased pressure to maintain profit margins and sustain the quality of natural resources in the face of climatic variability and climate change, decreased water allocations, increased input costs (especially feed grains), labour supply shortages, and volatile milk prices. Meeting these challenges requires sophisticated understanding of how dairy production systems are constructed and managed, and what drives profitability.

In this subject students will:

1. develop an in depth understanding of dairy production systems, and current research issues.
2. evaluate the role of the various aspects of dairy systems management within the production systems.
3. identify important social, ethical and natural resource management issues in dairy production.
4. integrate knowledge from different sources to critically evaluate issues in dairy production systems.

Two oral presentations of 10 minutes each completed during timetabled classes (each contributing 20% of final mark); and

two 1500 word written assignments (each contributing 30% of final mark), due approximately one and three weeks after the conclusion of the intensive.

Holmes, C.W. et al. Milk Production from Pasture (2nd edition). Butterworths

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:

• academic excellence
• greater in-depth understanding of scientific disciplines of dairy production systems and their responses to constraints imposed by environments and markets
• critical thinking and analysis and problem solving
• flexibility and level of transferable skills should be enhanced through improved ability to communicate ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats.

Q Fever

Students enrolling in this subject are advised that some courses of study may put them at an increased risk of contracting Q Fever. Q Fever is a relatively common preventable condition which, while rarely fatal, can cause a severe acute illness and can result in damage to heart valves and chronic fatigue. It is recommended that students consider undertaking screening and vaccination for Q Fever prior to commencement of study. Students may be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to undertaking some coursework. Your course coordinator will advise you of this requirement prior to commencement of the study semester. Vaccine costs for students are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, Medicare, or by the University. Some students with full private medical coverage (which has hospital and ancillary cover) may receive partial re-imbursement for vaccine costs.