Strategic Purpose Statement
This qualification is intended for people who want to learn pastoral livestock farming skills and knowledge required for working in either the dairy, meat and or fibre farming sectors.
New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Dairy Farming and Meat and or Fibre
Graduate Profile
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
- Work as an effective member of a farming team by maintaining own health and wellbeing, communicating with team members and stakeholders, contributing to financial efficiency, and using appropriate technology.
- Assist with soil and pasture management activities in a livestock production context.
- Assist with implementing livestock feeding plans to meet production requirements.
- Assist with mating and parturition of farmed livestock over a mating and parturition season.
- Assist with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of livestock health problems.
Graduates of the Dairy Farming strand will also be able to:
- Milk animals, maintaining hygiene and animal welfare.
- Assist with cleaning and maintaining the milking plant and farm dairy to maintain optimum milk quality.
- Assist with identifying milk quality problems and implementing solutions to those problems.
- Assist with dairy environmental management.
- Assist with young stock rearing
Graduates of the Meat and/or Fibre strand will also be able to:
- Assist with maintaining agribusiness machinery.
- Carry out young stock husbandry.
- Care for and handle farm working animals.
- Carry out farm fencing.
Education Pathways
This qualification may build on the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2). May lead on to the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Dairy Farming, Breeding Livestock Farming and Non Breeding Livestock Farming.
Employment Pathway
This programme is suitable for individuals who may have some general experience and be either working within or wishing to enter a career in the agriculture industry and who want to develop their skills and knowledge. Graduates of this programme are likely to be employed within the livestock sector as farm assistants or junior shepherds. They may be employed full-time in a husbandry role or perform the work as part of a wider on-farm role.
Entry Criteria
Prospective students must have the physical capability to cope with the practical demands of this programme. The programme is designed to provide authentic farming experiences and this includes early morning starts, working with animals outdoors in all weathers, and physical work including lifting weights up to 20kg.
- Students will require suitable wet weather protective gear and farm appropriate footwear.
- Wet weather gear is included in the course fees for international students and is included in course related costs for domestic students.
- Information is provided in acceptance letters. Detail and costs can be discussed at the pre-enrolment interview.
Domestic students
- Age: Must be at least 17 years of age.
- Applicants should demonstrate an ability to succeed in tertiary study, shown by the completion of any of the following
- New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (level 2) with optional strand in Self-Management and Employability Skills [Ref: 2218] or have evidence of equivalent industry experience.
- A minimum of three years secondary education and NCEA Level 1 Step 3 Reading and Step 4 Numeracy on the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool
International students
- Age: Must be a minimum age of 18 years old or turning 18 prior to the end of the Programme.
- Academic: Open entry with an agricultural background or an interest in agriculture in their own country.
- International students for whom English is a second language must attain an IELTS General or Academic score of 5 or equivalent with no band score lower than 5 or pass an internal test to assess their English proficiency level according to Rule 18 English language requirements for international students.
To complete module 13 Farm working animals, learners must have access to their own farm working dog.
Applicants will participate in a pre-enrolment interview. Enrolment is subject to the Academic Programme Manager’s approval.
Fees Free applies for domestic students. Contact us for eligibility criteria and course fees. Programme approved for international students.