Nebraska Ranch Practicum

Enjoy the comradery among participants and a small core of instructors and facilitators through three seasons. Friendships and exchange of ideas among the Practicum folk are among the most valued aspects of the program.  High quality educational material includes software, notebooks with laminated field guides, and an outstanding collection of University publications. You’ll also benefit from cutting-edge research in range livestock production and marketing systems at the UNL Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, a nationally recognized research and education facility.

Participants will develop the ability to efficiently use decision support tools to critically evaluate numerous management and marketing alternatives dealing with:

• grazing strategies and systems
• methods of managing market risk
• calving and weaning dates
• winter livestock nutrition
• cull cow management
• feed rations and seasonal mineral supplements

Additionally you will learn to use forage, livestock, and market monitoring skills to capitalize on seasonal patterns.

Sound grazing management begins with an understanding of the relationship between forage quality and plant growth and development on meadows and upland range. You will develop plant identification skills and understand how to determine range condition and monitor wildlife habitat.  Participants learn to formulate grazing strategies based on natural-resource-management and livestock-production objectives and how to determine which grazing system is most likely to accomplish their prioritized set of objectives.

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