Cattle Health, Breeding, and Pastures

This unit develops practical skills in diagnosing and managing common beef cattle health issues, reproductive care for pregnant cows, and age-appropriate calf husbandry. It also introduces basic pasture-based enterprise planning to generate revenue from surplus grazing while maintaining animal welfare and biosecurity, building on prior foundational units and preparing students for advanced herd and business management.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze common beef cattle ailments by interpreting clinical signs, selecting appropriate diagnostic steps, and recommending treatment, prevention, and biosecurity measures.
• Apply reproductive management practices to schedule breeding, identify gestational stages, and implement prenatal care and record-keeping for pregnant cows.
• Demonstrate neonatal and growing calf care techniques, including colostrum management, vaccination protocols, nutrition plans, and housing to maintain health and growth benchmarks.
• Evaluate pasture-management and small-scale grazing business options to prepare a basic revenue plan (e.g., leasing, custom grazing), including cost–benefit estimates and compliance with animal welfare and regulatory considerations.