ANSC30290
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Grassland Management and Applied Dairy Nutrition (ANSC30290)
Subject: : Animal Science
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 3 (Degree)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Dr Zoe McKay
Trimester: : Spring
Mode of Delivery: : Blended
Internship Module: : No
Module Type: : Fieldwork Module
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This undergraduate module targets students specialising in Dairy Science and addresses the principles of grassland management and dairy cow nutrition within pasture-based dairy production systems. It consists of a mix of lectures, seminars, practicals and field trips on the theory and practice of grassland nutrition based on the latest research information. The grassland component will provide an appreciation of the objectives and management technologies for sustainable grazing systems; examine the potential from reseeding and merits of new grass cultivars; investigate strategies to increase nutrient efficiency within pasture systems and identify key performance indicators for high productivity grazing systems. The dairy cow nutrition component will quantify the basic nutritional requirements of the pasture fed dairy cow, provide methodologies to evaluate nutritional status of dairy herds in practice and examine the opportunities for efficient strategic supplementation at pasture.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module the students should be able to:\ Clearly and concisely explain the key success indicators of pasture-based milk production and develop the techniques to critically evaluate the technical efficiency of a grass-based dairy farm.\ Competently understand and apply a variety of modern grazing management technologies throughout the grazing season to achieve high animal performance.\ Describe the nutritional status of a dairy herd at a point in time and accurately project the change in feed supply for that herd over time.\ Understand and evaluate the nutrient efficiency of a dairy farm system, identify soil fertility limitations and potential mitigation strategies where poor nutrient efficiency is observed to increase the sustainability of pasture-based milk production systems.\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Autonomous Student Learning | 70 |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Practical | 4 |
| Field Trip/External Visits | 18 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 116 |
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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered off campus at the research centre Teagasc Moorepark as part of the Dairy Business programme.\ The module delivery includes in class lectures, guest lectures, numerous field trips and field work.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
\
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:\ CPSC30040 - Grass and Forage Production, CPSC40040 - Developments in Grassland\ \ \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam (In-person): Examination: Final Exam | Week 15 | Graded | No | 65 | No |
| Exam (In-person): Presentation: Oral presentation | Week 5 | Graded | No | 5 | No |
| Quizzes/Short Exercises: Continuous Assessment: Short questionnaires/practical assessment throughout the Semester | Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 | Graded | No | 30 | No |
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Carry forward of passed components
Yes
\
What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Yes - 2 Hour |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment\ • Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\ • Group/class feedback, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Feedback is provided via grades for continuous assessment and presentation. Individual feedback is provided after the presentation component
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Eithne Gowen | Tutor |
| Mr Brendan Horan | Tutor |