New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Dairy Farming and Meat and or Fibre

Gain the practical skills employers are looking for. Learn the fundamentals of livestock farming, animal health, pasture management, and farm operations, with specialised pathways in Dairy Farming or Meat and Fibre production.

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Telford
Campus
Telford
Qualification
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
125
Duration

1 year full time

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$3405 (incl. GST)

International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.


Course Outline

The purpose of this qualification is to provide pastoral livestock farming sectors with individuals who have the skills and knowledge to carry out a range of core tasks relevant to either dairy or meat and/or fibre farming.

This qualification is stranded to recognise the specific skills and knowledge required by the pastoral livestock farming sectors.   The livestock farming industry will benefit by having staff that are able to carry out tasks in a safe, appropriate and effective manner.

This qualification is targeted at people who either have some experience, or who have a desire to work, in the pastoral farming industry, who want to develop their skills and knowledge in dairy farming meat farming and/or fibre farming.   Graduates will be capable of working under limited supervision with responsibility for work outcomes.

Course Content

Core programme content includes:

  • 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 (5 credits)
  • Assist with soil and pasture management activities in a livestock production context (20 credits)
  • Assist with implementing livestock feeding plans to meet production requirements (10 credits)
  • Assist with mating and parturition of farmed livestock over a mating and parturition season (25 credits)
  • Assist with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of livestock health problems (20 credits)


Dairy Farming strand content includes:

  • Milk animals, maintaining hygiene and animal welfare (10 credits)
  • Assist with cleaning and maintaining the milking plant and farm dairy to maintain optimum milk quality (10 credits)
  • Assist with identifying milk quality problems and implementing solutions to those problems (10 credits)
  • Assist with dairy environmental management (10 credits)
  • Assist with young stock rearing (5 credits)


Meat and/or Fibre strand content includes:

  • Assist with maintaining agribusiness machinery (10 credits)
  • Carry out young stock husbandry (10 credits)
  • Care for and handle farm working animals (10 credits)
  • Carry out farm fencing (15 credits)
Application Criteria

Applicants Under 20 Years

Applicants under 20 years of age must:

  • Have achieved NCEA Level 1 in English, or an equivalent qualification.
  • Hold a driver's licence, with a minimum of a Restricted Class 1 (car) licence.
  • Have suitable physical capability to complete manual tasks.
  • Be employed in the farming industry or be willing to undertake industry experience on a farm.

Applicants Over 20 Years

Applicants aged 20 years or over at the time of enrolment may be considered if they can demonstrate their ability to succeed in the programme.

Evidence may include:

  • successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above in a related discipline; and/or\
  • at least one year of employment in a related sector.

Applicants aged 20 years or over must also:

  • hold a driver's licence, with a minimum of a Restricted Class 1 (car) licence; and
  • have suitable physical capability to complete manual tasks.

Admission may be subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager, as appropriate. Personal commitment and belief in your ability to succeed will also be considered during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where English is not the language of instruction in schools, must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance; or
  • an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A Level qualification where teaching and assessment were conducted in English; or
  • a Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or
  • successful completion of all primary education (equivalent to New Zealand primary school Years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (equivalent to three years of New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, where English was the language of instruction; or
  • successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (equivalent to New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, where English was the language of instruction; or
  • successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours Degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree taught in English by a tertiary education provider in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States; or
  • successful completion of one of the internationally recognised English proficiency tests below at the required level. All scores must be achieved in a single test taken within the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.

Certificate at Level 3: Recognised English Proficiency Tests

  • IELTS (General or Academic): Overall score of 5.0, with no band score lower than 5.0.
  • TOEFL Paper-based Test (pBT): Score of 500, with an essay score of 4 TWE. 
  • TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT): Score of 35, with a writing score of 14.
  • Cambridge English Examination: B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 154, with no less than 154 in each skill.
  • OET: Minimum Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests.
  • NZCEL: Level 3 (General) or (Workplace).
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic): PTE Academic score of 36, with no band score lower than 36.
  • LanguageCert: B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS, with no less than PASS in each skill.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE I, with no less than Distinction in any band.
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