CQUniversity Unit Profile

AGRI13013 - Rangeland and pasture management

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All details in this unit profile for AGRI13013 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.

General Information

Overview

This rangelands and pasture management unit focuses on the role of grazed pasture systems for sustainable agriculture. These grazed systems include rangeland areas as well as improved pastures. Nearly three quarters of Australia is rangeland and found in low rainfall, variable climate areas with no clearly defined boundary, while improved pasture areas have an important role across higher rainfall areas. You will gain expertise in pasture sampling, yield measurements and apply these skills to determine carrying capacity under grazing. You will also develop an understanding of identifying pastures, pasture plant improvement and pasture establishment. Additionally, you will study topical issues affecting the sustainable use of pastures which will equip you for job readiness in this important area.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate

Unit Level: Level 3

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 7

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Completion of 48 credit points.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2026

Bundaberg

Emerald

Mixed Mode

Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)

Weighting: 40%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

3. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:

Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure

This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

Previous Student Feedback

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Communicate the significance of Australian rangelands and improved pastures from a nutritional perspective and outline various grazing animal management strategies
Select suitable pastures species for livestock production based on prevailing climatic conditions, soil types and livestock requirements
Identify factors affecting yield and ecology of rangelands and improved pastures
Competently sample and monitor pasture and estimate pasture growth and carrying capacity.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

N/A Level

Introductory Level

Intermediate Level

Graduate Level

Professional Level

Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:

CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

Karen Harper Unit Coordinator
k.harper@cqu.edu.au

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7

Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026

Module/Topic

Pasture improvement strategies - grass selection

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1 Quiz A due: Friday 4 September, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Week 8

Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026

Module/Topic

Pasture improvement strategies - legume selection

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 2A (report) due Monday 5 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Assessment 2B (presentation) due Thursday 8 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Exam Week

Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation/Exam Week

Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title

Assessment 1 Online Quizzes

Task Description

There are two (2) quizzes:

QUIZ A (20%) Assessment of content delivered during lectures and tutorials from Week 1 through to and including Week 6. Due date: Quiz closes Week 7 Friday 4 September, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

QUIZ B (20%) Assessment of content delivered during lectures and tutorial from Week 7 through to and including Week 11. Due date: 2 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Quizzes will be undertaken on Moodle, and consists of multiple choice, true/false, match type questions and will open on Monday of the corresponding week at 7 am. You will have 1d hour to complete each quiz once started. Only one attempt is allowed.

Level of Gen AI use allowed.

Level 1: you must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.

Number of Quizzes

Frequency of Quizzes

Other

Assessment Due Date

QUIZ A (20%) Due date: Quiz closes Week 7 Friday 4 September, 2026 5.00 pm AEST. QUIZ B (20%) Due date: Week 11 Friday 2 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.

Weighting

40%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded based on correct responses to quiz questions.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

All parts of this assessment are due on Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Select suitable pastures species for livestock production based on prevailing climatic conditions, soil types and livestock requirements
Identify factors affecting yield and ecology of rangelands and improved pastures

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assessment 2 Development of a grazing management strategy.

Task Description

Assessment Type

Written Assessment

This assessment comprises of two (2) parts and accounts for 30% of your final mark.

PART A Report (20%)

Choose one (1) of the four (4) case studies provided. Develop a grazing management strategy based on sound scientific background and production returns in the form of a written report. In this report include:

Introduction - Outline the scenario and the feed and animal objectives in the chosen case study.

Evaluation of current system - Examine the grazing system that is in place in your case study. Describe the annual pattern of rainfall, pasture growth and pasture quality for an enterprise in this case study. For your enterprise, draw a diagram that illustrates the pattern of nutritional requirements over a 12 month period and the associated “DSE/AE” ratings. Describe how the available pasture resources match the fluctuations in animal nutritional requirements.

Improvement strategies - Describe changes that might improve production and take into account the effect of season on impact of grazing system.

Review and evaluation of grazing system strategy. Outline how you will monitor and evaluate the success of the improved grazing management strategy on your case study.

This assessment will be in the format of an essay (1500-2000 words) and must include the above focus headings, conclusion and references. References are not included in the work limit. Figures are expected.

PART B- Presentation (10%)

You are required to pre-record a 10 minute presentation describing a type of grazing system (e.g. set stocking, continuous grazing or rotational grazing)

1. Briefly define a chosen system.

2. What are the advantages of the chosen system?

3. What are the disadvantages of the chosen system?

The marking rubrics for Part A and B will be available on Moodle.

Assessment Due Date

PART A due Week 12 Monday 5 October 2026 by 5 pm AEST: PART B due Week 12 Thursday 8th October 2026 by 5 pm AEST.

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 14 working days of submission.

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

50%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded for:

Communication and presentation skills

Introduction and addressing the topic

Knowledge, content and structure

Analysis of information

Discussion of how the pasture and grazing strategy will be implemented

Evaluation of the pasture and grazing strategy

Clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar

Use of references and accuracy of referencing

Appropriate length (Part A) and timeframe (Part B).

Detailed marking rubrics will be available on Moodle.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Communicate the significance of Australian rangelands and improved pastures from a nutritional perspective and outline various grazing animal management strategies
Select suitable pastures species for livestock production based on prevailing climatic conditions, soil types and livestock requirements
Competently sample and monitor pasture and estimate pasture growth and carrying capacity.

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assessment 3 Practical Portfolio

Task Description

Assessment type

Written Assessment

Task Description

The practical portfolio relates to the residential school, where you will be required to complete a series of activities and short response questions. A copy of the practical portfolio will be available on Moodle including specific details for each activity.

Level of Gen AI use allowed.

Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Monday (21 Sept 2026) 5:00 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 14 days of submission.

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

50%

Assessment Criteria

Marks are awarded for attendance, participation, completion, correct responses to questions and submission of the required practical activities at the residential school.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Offline Online

Submission Instructions

This assessment can be submitted via moodle or a hard copy can be handed in at the conclusion of the residential school.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Communicate the significance of Australian rangelands and improved pastures from a nutritional perspective and outline various grazing animal management strategies
Identify factors affecting yield and ecology of rangelands and improved pastures
Competently sample and monitor pasture and estimate pasture growth and carrying capacity.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.