Course Overview
In the Cow/Calf Production 10, 20, 30 series, there are no prerequisites for any of the courses. While it is recommended that students complete all three courses in the series, a teacher may choose to teach 20 or 30 without the others. In order to accommodate this option, few modules have prerequisite modules identified. However, when not providing the 10, 20 and 30 courses in order, teachers must review, and may need to incorporate, learning objectives from earlier comparable modules to ensure that students gain all the necessary knowledge and skills.
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Module Code |
Module |
Suggested Time (hours) |
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Core and Optional Modules for Cow/Calf Production 10
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CALF01 |
Module 01: Farm Safety (Core) |
7-9 |
|
CALF02 |
Module 02: Communications (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF03 |
Module 03: Career Exploration (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF04 |
Module 04: Planning for Livestock Production (Core) |
4-6 |
|
CALF05 |
Module 05: Farm Equipment Maintenance and Repair (Core) |
10-14 |
|
CALF06 |
Module 06: Marketing (Core) |
4-5 |
|
CALF07 |
Module 07: Beef Cattle Breeds (Optional) |
4-6 |
|
CALF08 |
Module 08: Basic Handling of Beef Cattle (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF09 |
Module 09: Cattle Nutrition (Core) |
4-5 |
|
CALF10 |
Module 10: Livestock Handling Equipment (Core) |
6-8 |
|
CALF11 |
Module 11: Beef Cattle Health Care (Core) |
5-10 |
|
CALF12 |
Module 12: Pasture and Pen Maintenance (Optional) |
5-7 |
|
CALF13 |
Module 13: Riding and Handling a Horse (Optional) |
1-3 |
|
CALF14 |
Module 14: Recordkeeping in a Cow/Calf Operation (Optional) |
1-3 |
|
CALF15A |
Module 15A: Work Study Preparation and Follow-up Activities (Core) |
5-10 |
|
CALF16A |
Module 16A: Work Study (Core) |
25-50 |
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Core and Optional Modules for Cow/Calf Production 20
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CALF15B |
Module 15B: Work Study Preparation and Follow-up Activities (Core) |
5-10 |
|
CALF16B |
Module 16B: Work Study (Core) |
25-50 |
|
CALF17 |
Module 17: Farm Safety (Core) |
7-9 |
|
CALF18 |
Module 18: Communications (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF19 |
Module 19: Career Exploration (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF20 |
Module 20: Planning for Beef Cattle Production (Core) |
4-6 |
|
CALF21 |
Module 21: Farm Equipment Maintenance and Repair (Core) |
5-7 |
|
CALF22 |
Module 22: Marketing (Core) |
4-5 |
|
CALF23 |
Module 23: Cattle Breeds (Optional) |
2-4 |
|
CALF24 |
Module 24: Beef Handling (Core) |
3-5 |
|
CALF25 |
Module 25: Cattle Nutrition (Core) |
5-7 |
|
CALF26 |
Module 26: Livestock Handling Equipment (Core) |
5-7 |
|
CALF27 |
Module 27: Pasture and Pen Checking (Optional) |
4-5 |
|
CALF28 |
Module 28: Repair and Maintenance of Cow/Calf Facilities (Core) |
5-6 |
CALF29 |
Module 29: Veterinary Drugs (Core) |
4-6 |
|
CALF30 |
Module 30: Calving Procedures (Core) |
5-10 |
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Core Modules for Cow/Calf Production 30
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CALF15C |
Module 15C: Work Study Preparation and Follow-up Activities (Core) |
5-10 |
|
CALF16C |
Module 16C: Work Study (Core) |
25-50 |
|
CALF31 |
Module 31: Recordkeeping for a Cow/Calf Operation (Core) |
4-6 |
|
CALF32 |
Module 32: Causes and Prevention of Farm Accidents (Core) |
4-5 |
|
CALF33 |
Module 33: First Response for Farm Accidents (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF34 |
Module 34: Communications (Core) |
2-3 |
|
CALF35 |
Module 35: Career Exploration (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF36 |
Module 36: Farm Planning (Core) |
3-4 |
|
CALF37 |
Module 37: Farm Equipment Maintenance and Repair (Core) |
5-7 |
|
CALF38 |
Module 38: Cattle Anatomy (Core) |
4-5 |
|
CALF39 |
Module 39: Culling and Breeding Plans (Core) |
5-6 |
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CALF40 |
Module 40: Specialized Livestock Equipment (Core) |
7-9 |
|
CALF41 |
Module 41: Cattle Behaviour (Core) |
4-6 |
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CALF42 |
Module 42: Marketing Beef Cattle (Core) |
5-6 |
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CALF43 |
Module 43: Pasture Management (Core) |
5-6 |
|
CALF44 |
Module 44: Animal Identification (Core) |
4-6 |
|
CALF45 |
Module 45: Code of Ethics in Animal Practice (Core) |
4-6 |
Considerations for Program Delivery
Community Partnerships Involve Using Local Farms and Farmers to Learn
Throughout this program, beef producers, livestock equipment and machinery dealers, and livestock specialists are recommended as resource persons to enhance student learning and to provide practical experience. Students should also use related livestock production businesses and services such as:
· feed mills
· livestock auction markets
· producer organizations
· farm building contractors
· veterinarians
· short-line equipment manufacturers or machinery dealers.
Teachers will need to seek assistance from beef producers in the community in order to provide opportunities for practical experience and to act as resources as required. Adjustments should be made to accommodate the particular circumstances of the community as well as the related experiences of the students.
Work study opportunities are a requirement of the course (i.e., 25 to 50 hours per credit).
Instructional Resources
There are a wide variety of resources for the instruction of cow/calf production. Students should develop skills in finding and using the most current information on topics relating to cow/calf production.
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization is the most important source of current resources. Resources can be ordered from the Publication Distribution Centre Order Desk by telephone at (306) 721-4330; by fax at (306) 721-4626 or by e-mail at Valb.pad@sk.sympatico.ca. Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization’s web site is http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca.
Instructional Strategies and Methods
The ATEC Program, Cow/Calf Production 10, 20, 30 encourages the use of the following instructional strategies and methods. Consult Saskatchewan Learning’s foundation document Instructional Approaches: A Framework for Practice (1991), for additional information. Many instructional methods are recommended for use with the ATEC program.
experiential
· field trips
· field observations
· job shadowing.
interactive
· presentations including on-site demonstrations or symposiums
· discussions
· mentoring with co-operating farmers-trainers.
independent learning
· learning contracts
· student reference manuals.
Learning contracts and the creation of Student Reference Manuals are of particular importance in the ATEC Program.
Learning Contracts
The ATEC Program, Cow/Calf Production 10, 20, 30 is designed for more individualized exploration and application of skills and abilities through on-site practice with working farmers or on-site trainers. Learning contracts should be used to organize the on-site practice with the foundational and specific learning objectives required by the modules throughout the course. Examples of learning contracts can be found in the Saskatchewan Learning foundation document, Student Evaluation: A Teacher Handbook.
Student Reference Manual
The purpose of the Student Reference Manual is to be a repository of useful work site reference material collected throughout the course and throughout the various levels.
The Student Reference Manual will provide an exhibit of a student’s effort, progress, and achievement over a period of time. The manual should be organized so that it is clearly useful to the individual student.
Throughout each level, students will be requested to prepare material to insert and maintain in the log. The material in the manual should be evaluated on accuracy, completeness, usefulness, and organization.
Preparing for the Cow/Calf Production
The courses in the ATEC Program focus on the skills and abilities required at the technician level of cow/calf production. Students are expected to achieve the basic competencies outlined throughout the course by:
· engaging in hands-on, practical experiences with knowledgeable experts in cow/calf production
· monitoring progress using checklists at key points throughout the course. These checklists should be self-assessed and verified by the farmers-trainers as well as the teacher.
The key factor to successful achievements of the basic competencies is the contribution made by the co-operating farmer-trainer. In order to establish a successful relationship, expectations should be discussed, defined, and mutually agreed upon by the co-operating farmers-trainers and the teacher. Teachers should refer to the “Guidelines for Work Study”, a section of the Practical and Applied Arts Handbook for specific direction.
Teachers should also prepare an inventory of other community resources, work study opportunities, and field trip or demonstration sites prior to implementing Cow/Calf Production 10, 20, 30.
Planning Schedule for Teachers
|
Time period |
To Do |
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Prior to course |
Identify possible co-operating farmers-trainers
Review guidelines for Work Study
Identify and select possible field trip or demonstration sites
Identify possible work study opportunities.
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Early in course |
Work with students to: · prepare individual learning contracts · identify and arrange field trip sites · identify and arrange work study opportunities. |
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Mid-way
|
Have students review individual learning contracts
Discuss progress with co-operating farmers-trainers.
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End of course
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Remind students of deadlines
Prepare for final assessment.
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