This qualification is for people with some experience in the cattle, dairy, deer or sheep farming sectors of the agriculture industry. On completion of this qualification people will be able to work under little or no supervision.

This qualification recognises the specialised and seasonal nature of modern cattle, dairy, deer and sheep farming. People will be able to gain the skills and knowledge to specialise in animal feeding and pastures management.

The compulsory section includes the skills related to livestock grazing management and feeding; and weather interpretation. This section also includes knowledge of pasture production, feed budgeting and management of feed surpluses and deficits; pasture supply and demand and grazing systems; and the impact of agriculture on soils.

The elective section recognises the variations amongst farms in the use of agricultural vehicles such as tractors, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicle Utilities (ATVUs), and quad bikes; as well as injury factors and how to manage these. It also has a variety of standards related to a range of farm skills, the set-up, operation, and maintenance of irrigation systems, knowledge of fertilisers, and factors that contribute to injury on farms. This section allows people to select standards relevant to their own farming situation.

This qualification includes optional standards covering a range of additional skills. Whilst these standards are not required to achieve the qualification, they may be considered useful for obtaining underpinning skills or knowledge reflecting on-farm variations such as irrigation, weed control, electric fencing, and livestock.

This qualification builds on the knowledge and skills in the National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) with strands in Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1434].

For people involved with dairy farming, this qualification also has a link with the following qualifications as an overall package of seasonal farm skills:
. National Certificate in Agriculture (Cattle Breeding) (Level 3) with strands in Beef Cattle Farming, and Dairy Cattle Farming [Ref: 1436];
. National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Milking) (Level 3) [Ref: 1440];
. National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) [Ref: 1441].

These qualifications may be completed concurrently or individually as seasonal activities occur on the dairy farm, and depending on the degree of specialisation of the dairy farm.

For people involved with cattle or sheep farming, this qualification has a link with the following qualifications as an overall package of seasonal farm skills:
. National Certificate in Agriculture (Cattle Breeding) (Level 3) with strands in Beef Cattle Farming, and Dairy Cattle Farming [Ref: 1436];
. National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockmanship) (Level 3) [Ref:1437];
. National Certificate in Agriculture (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) with strands in Cattle Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1438];
. National Certificate in Sheep Farming (Sheep Breeding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1443].

These qualifications may be completed concurrently or individually as a large proportion of farms run both cattle and sheep, and each of the qualifications are associated with seasonal activities on the farm.

For people involved with deer farming, this qualification has a link with the National Certificate in Deer Farming (Level 3) [Ref: 1442] as an overall package of seasonal farm skills. These two qualifications may be completed concurrently or individually as seasonal activities occur on the deer farm, and depending on the degree of specialisation of the deer farm.

On completion of this qualification people can progress to one or more of the Level 4 agriculture qualifications.