How long will it take me to finish?

Most students finish in 10–15 weeks studying part-time. The course is about 200 study hours in total, self-paced, with 12 months' access. If spring workload slows you down, you can apply for an extension of up to 12 months (an extension fee may apply).

Is this course accredited, and will it help me get dairy work?

It's a practical course, not a formal qualification. Our certificates are non-accredited short courses focused on practical, job-relevant knowledge. They're not nationally accredited VET qualifications (such as a Certificate III). If a role or licence legally requires a specific accredited qualification, check with the employer or licensing body. Our course consultants will be upfront about what this course can and can't do for you.

Why is pasture so important on a dairy farm?

Because on most grazing dairies, pasture eaten in the paddock is the cheapest source of quality feed. The more of a cow's diet that comes from well-grown, well-grazed pasture, the less you rely on bought-in grain and fodder. That's why this course pairs pasture growth with feed-flow planning: growing grass only pays if the herd harvests it at the right time.

What is rotational grazing, in simple terms?

Rotational grazing means dividing pasture into paddocks or strips and moving stock through them in turn, so each area rests and regrows before it's grazed again. On many dairies, cows get a fresh break every day or after each milking. Done well, it grows more pasture and wastes less of it. The Existing Pasture Growth and Management unit covers managing grazing.

Livestock & Farm Management Courses

Certificate in Dairy Cattle & Pasture Management (Online)

Grow more grass, and turn more of it into milk.

A dairy cattle course built around the feed base. Learn to choose, sow and graze productive pasture, then match it to what your herd needs at every stage of lactation, online and at your own pace.

100% online
2 core modules
approx. 200 study hours
12 months' access
Tutor support 6 days a week
Certificate + transcript

Download the brochure Speak to a course consultant

Dairy cows grazing green pasture under gum trees

What is the Certificate in Dairy Cattle & Pasture Management?

The Certificate in Dairy Cattle & Pasture Management is a self-paced online dairy cattle course for running a dairy from the feed base up. Across two modules (Dairy Cattle Farming and Pasture Management) you'll learn pasture species, soil, water, weeds and grazing alongside dairy breeding, rations, feed-flow planning and herd health. It suits dairy workers and pasture-based farmers.

Course overview

From the paddock to the vat

How much milk is still standing in your paddocks? On a grazing dairy, pasture is usually the cheapest feed a cow can eat, so every extra tonne you grow and harvest well takes pressure off bought-in feed. This course treats the herd and the grass as one system: grow the right pasture, keep it healthy, and feed it to cows in a way that matches their needs.

Build a better feed base – Choose grass and legume species for your site and purpose, and manage the soil fertility and water that drive pasture growth.
Match supply to demand – Use feed-flow planning and dairy ration calculations to line up what the paddocks grow with what the herd needs through the lactation cycle.
Protect the pasture and the herd – Identify and control pasture pests, diseases and weeds, and manage mastitis and herd health with regular checks.
Graze with a plan – Establish new pasture, renovate tired paddocks and manage grazing so the next round comes back strong.

Want your pasture to do more of the heavy lifting?

Who this course is for

Dairy hands who set the breaks and move the cows and want to understand the decisions behind the grazing rotation.
Pasture-based dairy farmers looking to grow more home-grown feed and rely less on bought-in grain and fodder.
Young farmers and successors taking responsibility for the feed side of a family dairy.
Rural merchandise and farm services staff who advise dairy clients on seed, fertiliser and pasture renovation.

What you'll study

After a short Student Induction module that sets you up on the learning platform and introduces your tutor, you'll complete two core modules: one on the herd and one on the feed it runs on.

Module 1: Dairy Cattle Farming (approx. 100 hours)

Learn how a dairy cow turns feed into milk, and how breeding, health and facilities shape her output. Unit 6 is where the herd and the pasture meet.

Breeds – anatomy, how dairy breeds compare, breed selection and identification methods.
Breeding – breeding programs, family grouping, bull value, inbreeding, performance testing and AI.
Reproduction – fertility, pregnancy, calving, the mammary gland and milk composition.
Facilities & Equipment – husbandry procedures, milking machines, shed types and avoiding milk spoilage.
Nutrition – feed types, rations, vitamins, minerals, deficiencies, toxicity and water needs.
Growth & Feeding – heifer growth, feeding through lactation, dairy ration calculations and feed-flow planning.
Health – vital signs, body condition, health problems and prevention.
Diseases – mastitis management, dry-cow therapy and other common diseases.
Dairy Cattle Management – herd records, financial management, herd replacement, health management and welfare.
Infrastructure and Natural Resource Management – planning and siting a new dairy, the milking shed routine and the dairy room.

Module 2: Pasture Management (approx. 100 hours)

The feed-base half of the course. You'll learn how pasture plants grow, which species suit your country, and how to establish, protect and graze pasture so it keeps producing.

Introduction to Pasture Management – why pasture matters, plus land management, location and site requirements.
Pasture Anatomy – how pasture plants are built and how they grow.
Pasture Selection – choosing grass and legume species for your site and purpose.
Soil Management – soils and fertility for productive pasture.
Water Management – water supply and use for pasture.
Pest, Disease, and Weed Management – identifying and controlling threats to pasture.
Machinery and Equipment – the equipment used to establish and maintain pasture.
New Pasture and Growth Management – sowing new pasture and managing early growth.
Existing Pasture Growth and Management – renovating existing pasture and managing grazing.

How you'll learn and be assessed

Online, in your own time – everything is on the learning platform 24/7, on any device, so you can study between milkings or on wet days.
Quizzes and tutor-marked assignments – each unit ends with a short online quiz. Pasture assignments cover species selection, soil and water, and pest management; dairy assignments cover breeding, equipment, nutrition, health and herd management. Every one gets personalised tutor feedback.
Feed planning in practice – you'll calculate dairy rations and work through a feed-flow scenario, then apply pasture knowledge to establishing and grazing paddocks.
Competency-based, with support – if something isn't there yet, you get feedback and resubmit. Tutor support runs 6 days a week by phone, email or video call. No exams to sit in a centre.

Tailor your course with add-on modules

Any certificate can be tailored with add-on modules from our catalogue, so you can pick up extra skills that match your property, business or career plans. Ask a course consultant about adding modules at enrolment or during your studies.

Agronomy I

Learn how field crops grow and how to manage them, from seed and sowing to cereal and broadleaf crops, harvest and a hands-on crop management project. Useful if you sow summer or winter forage crops to fill feed gaps that pasture alone can't cover.

Soil Management

Get to know your soil: classification, properties and plant nutrition, soil testing, degradation problems like erosion and salinity, and practical soil management on farms, finishing with your own soil investigation. Soil testing sits behind every fertiliser decision on a dairy, and this module teaches you to read the results for yourself.

Farm Management

Run the farm as a business: farm and business planning, budgets and cash flow, staff, operations, business structures, WHS, land, water and soil management, and diversification. Lets you put a dollar value on extra pasture and plan the business around it.

Animal Health

Recognise and respond to illness in livestock: signs and symptoms, how diseases are classified, caused, diagnosed and treated, and how animals heal. Adds depth to herd health for anyone responsible for cows day to day.

Ask a course consultant about adding modules when you enrol.

Career pathways and earning potential

Pasture and herd skills together are valued wherever cows are grazed for milk. Roles graduates often explore include:

Dairy farm worker – milking, moving cows to fresh breaks, feeding and calf rearing. Dairy farm hand roles: advertised average $72,500 (most common $70k–$75k), Jora.
Herd or pasture manager (2IC) – planning grazing rotations, feed budgets and herd health on a larger dairy.
Rural merchandise or farm services sales – advising dairy farmers on pasture seed, fertiliser and renovation. Sales representatives (all industries): median $1,692/week full-time, Jobs and Skills Australia.

Figures are advertised salaries (SEEK, Jora) or median full-time earnings (Jobs and Skills Australia), accessed October 2026. Pay varies with experience, location and employer. Figures are a guide only.

Course details

Study mode: 100% online, self-paced
Core modules: 2 (plus Student Induction)
Study time: approx. 200 hours at your own pace (most students finish in 10–15 weeks)
Access: 12 months
Support: tutor support 6 days a week
You'll receive: Certificate of Completion, Certificate of Attainment and transcript
Payment: upfront or interest-free payment plan

Download the brochure Speak to a course consultant

Download your Certificate in Dairy Cattle & Pasture Management brochure

See every unit, how assessment works and your payment options.

Frequently asked questions

No. You don't need land, a herd or previous study to enrol. If you work on a dairy, you'll be able to apply each unit to the paddocks and cows in front of you. If you don't, you can base your work on any grazing property you can visit or learn about.