Breeding and rearing calves is a profitable business and fundamental to dairy and cattle farming. Whether you want to fill skills gaps in your current role or aspire to work on a beef or dairy farm, this course provides an ideal foundation in calf rearing.
Introduction to Calf Rearing is a professional development course that will provide a comprehensive understanding of calf production for the beef and dairy cattle industry.
In this calf rearing course, you will learn the principles of calf rearing, including selecting calves for dairy and breeding, managing calf operations on a farm, identifying health issues in calves and designing housing facilities for animal production. You will also learn about post-weaning requirements and weaning procedures for commercial operations.
On completion of this course, you will have a broad understanding of calf production and rearing to work on a dairy or cattle farm.
Course Structure
Unit - Calf Rearing
Unit 1 – Calving and Culling
- Introduction to calf rearing
- Research into raising dairy calves
- Principles of good calf rearing
- Pre-calving management
- Managing the cow for a healthy calf
- Colostrum management
- Calf selection
- Estimated breeding value (EBV)
- Culling
- Assessing calves for suitability in a rearing system
- The size and weight of the calf
- Deformities
- Legs and feet
- Teats
Unit 2 – Calving Management
- The birth of a calf
- Signs that the birth is close
- Stages in the normal birth
- Calving problems
- Abnormal presentations
- Diagrams showing normal and abnormal birth positions
- The calf at birth
- Colostrum
- Stress and pathogen exposure
- Managing stress
- Managing pathogen exposure
- The calf digestive tract
- Rumen Development
Unit 3 – Calf Health Management
- Common calf diseases
- Scours (or diarrhoea)
- Round Worm Scours
- Coccidiosis
- Lung Worm
- Calf Diphtheria
- Pneumonia
- Clostridial diseases
- Salmonella
- Navel ill or Joint ill
- Stress and the young calf
- Transport Stress
- Feeding Stress
- Stress from heat or cold
Unit 4 – Calf Rearing Systems
- Birth to weaning
- Natural systems of calf rearing
- Single suckling
- Calving pattern
- The breed or cross
- Growth rates
- Creep feeding of calves
- Advantages of the single suckling method
- Multiple suckling
- Foster and race suckling
- Early weaning
- Artificial systems of calf rearing
- Teaching the calf to drink
- A basic feeding program
- Milk substitute feeding
- Standard mixture of milk substitute
- Common calf rearing systems
- Rearing calves with grass
- Five and a half day system
- Once a day system
- Cold milk system
- Acidified milk replacers
- Mildly acidic milk replacers
- Strongly acidic milk replacers
- Milk-fed veal production
- Housing & management practices
Unit 5 – Calf housing
- Calf housing options
- Good ventilation
- Calf isolation
- Comfort
- Calf pens
- Metal crates
- The calf hutch
Unit 6 – Weaning
- Weaning objectives
- Stress at waning
- General weaning transition strategies
- Weaning at twelve and eight weeks
- Steps to wean calves
- at five weeks
- At ten days old:
- At thirty-five days old:
- At eighty-four days old
- Providing water
Unit 7 – Post-Weaning
- Transition into the main herd
- Calf husbandry practices
- Reducing surgical stress
- Cattle identification
- Castration
- Bloodless castration
- Bloodless emasculator (calves and bulls)
- Elastrator (calves)
- Surgical castration
- Knife or scalpel or open castration
- Triple crush emasculator
- Dehorning
- When to dehorn
- Dehorning instruments and equipment
- Choosing the right dehorning instrument
- Hot iron dehorning
- Dehorning knife
- Scoop dehorners and scoop dehorners
- Successful horn removal
- Tetanus
- Vaccination and worming programs
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Enrol Now (Credit Card) or Enrol Now (Internet Banking/BPAY)
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Farm manager
- Farm hand
- Agricultural consultant
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