RS - Ranching Systems

RS 306  Livestock Management & Human Resources in Ranching Systems: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: RS 398. (F) This course will analyze different strategies for livestock production and management within a ranching system. Students will also learn best management practices for human resources and conflict resolution in ranching systems. Major topics include: human resource challenges, animal nutrition and genetics, ethical livestock production, conflict resolution, and decision making within a ranching system. Offered fall

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  1. Recognize, extend, and apply knowledge of animal, rangeland, and economic learning acquired during course work to a variety of ranch operations. (Knowledge, Comprehension and Understanding, Application)
  2. Evaluate and compare different methods of livestock production and management at a systems-level approach [knowledge]
  3. Recognize opportunities and limitations for livestock production related to local weather, natural resource conditions, human resources and capacity, and infrastructure [knowledge, comprehension]
  4. Discuss the role of human decision making and modeling in ranching systems [Comprehension]

RS 316  Forage Management and Natural Resource Stewardship in Ranching Systems: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: RS 398. (Sp) This course will analyze different strategies for forage inventory and management within a ranching system. Students will also learn the importance of wildlife and natural resource management in ranching systems along with the importance of conservation on private lands. Major topics include: forage inventory, losses to forage (drought, wildfire, grasshoppers, etc.), wildlife forage needs, wildlife / livestock interactions, and conservation of natural resources within a ranching system. Offered spring

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Recognize, extend, and apply knowledge of animal, rangeland, and economic learning acquired during course work to a variety of ranch operations. (Knowledge, Comprehension and Understanding, Application)
  2. Evaluate and compare different methods of forage production and management at a systems-level approach [knowledge]
  3. Create a forage management plan for a ranch addressing drought, wildlife, and other considerations [knowledge, comprehension]
  4. Discuss the role of monitoring in human decision making in ranching systems [Comprehension]

RS 398  Ranching Systems Livestock & Forage Internship: 1 Credits (1 Other)

PREREQUISITE: ANSC 202. (Su) Summer internship on a working ranch with emphasis on livestock production and forage management. Learn to match forage resources with animal nutritional needs. Focus on production agriculture, rangeland ecology and management, forage production, conservation, ranch planning, decision making and enterprise budgeting. Offered summer

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  1. Describe the host operation, including its structure, history, philosophies, and commodity production. (Knowledge)
  2. Demonstrate work ethic and recognize how daily tasks such as spraying weeds, fixing fence, and animal husbandry are relevant to the operation and industry. (Knowledge, Application)
  3. Recognize, extend, and apply knowledge of animal, rangeland, and economic learning acquired during course work to ranch operations and describe how internship enhanced understanding and use of discipline theories. (Knowledge, Comprehension and Understanding, Application)
  4. Describe how the internship has provided understanding and skills not covered in course work and explain why these skill are important for ranch managers. (Comprehension, Application)

RS 406  Finances and Decision Making in Ranching Systems: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: RS 498. (F) This course will analyze different strategies for financial tracking and budget management within a ranching system. Students will create a break-even analysis for the host ranch. Students will identify a challenge to the ranching industry and assist with planning an annual symposium and seminar series for other students and the ranching community. Major topics include: economic indicators, record keeping, planning, and decision making within a ranching system. Offered fall

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Recognize, extend, and apply knowledge of animal, rangeland, and economic learning acquired during course work to a variety of ranch operations. (Knowledge, Comprehension and Understanding, Application)
  2. Evaluate and compare different methods of economic performance indicators and record keeping at a systems-level approach [knowledge]
  3. Recognize opportunities for economic returns and stability related to local weather, natural resources, and infrastructure [knowledge, comprehension]
  4. Discuss the role of economics in the sustainability of ranching systems [Comprehension]

RS 416  Systems Thinking for Ranches: 2 Credits (2 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: RS 498. (Sp) This course will explore the theory and process of systems thinking and how it can be applied to ranching systems. Students will gain experience identifying issues on ranches, distilling them into the basics for analysis, and understanding the interrelations of seemingly separate functions. The course will focus on common archetypes found in ranching systems and ways to intervene in these archetypes to improve land health, livestock performance, economic returns and overall ranch sustainability. Offered spring

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  1. Describe the steps needed to apply systems thinking to a relevant issue.
  2. Recognize describe common feedback loops in ranching systems (knowledge, comprehension and understanding, application)
  3. Use the principles of systems thinking to map out limits to growth and other archetypes common to ranches (understanding, application)
  4. Construct a systems thinking model for a ranch case study and identify areas of intervention to change outcomes and behavioral patterns [knowledge, application, create]

RS 498  Ranching Systems Finances and Planning Internship: 1 Credits (1 Other)

PREREQUISITE: RS 398, RS 306, RS 316. (Su) Summer internship on a working ranch with emphasis on economics and enterprise level planning. Learn about identifying and tracking key economic indicators and how to conduct systems planning for ranches. Focus on production agriculture, rangeland ecology and management, forage production, conservation, ranch planning, decision making, economic indicators, and enterprise budgeting. Offered summer

View Course Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate work ethic and recognize how daily tasks and regular record keeping are relevant to the operation and industry. (Knowledge, Application)
  2. Recognize, extend, and apply knowledge of animal, rangeland, and economic learning acquired during course work to ranch operations and describe how internship enhanced understanding and use of discipline theories. (Knowledge, Comprehension, Application)
  3. Identify the key economic performance indicators used by the ranch and describe their effectiveness in decision making (Knowledge, Analysis, and Comprehension).
  4. Identify a specific opportunity for improvement in the ranching operation in cooperation with the ranch ownership and management. Collect all the relevant information to address this topic. Write a summary of how implementing changes in that area could enhance the operation’s efficiency, natural resource stewardship or economic returns. Present the plan for improvement to the host ranch manager / owner. (Analysis, Synthesis, Application)