Our short courses range from 3 – 5 days and are offered in :
Skills programmes can be tailor-made to requirements with any combination of Short course material and/or NQF Unit Standards
Where it is impractical for commercial poultry producers to send their staff away for training, the Poultry Management Training Centre can come to you !
It is possible to tailor-make training for the client’s needs.
This can range from a morning practical session on such topics as vaccination, brooding or egg handling to one of our 5 day short courses.
Minimum learner numbers are required. Please contact us to discuss your training needs.
Most of our standard short courses run for five days and include poultry production disciplines as well as in some of the ancilliary skills that are vital to a successful poultry venture. Courses can be held at the KZNPI or at the client’s facility.
Unless specifically requested, all training is at NQF Level 3 and all learning material and facilitation is in English. NQF Level 1 and 2 training can be arranged in isiZulu or English.
This challenging workshop is for the extension officer or commercial technical advisor who is servicing poultry farmers. A tertiary qualification and/or experience with poultry production is a prerequisite. The course grows the skills that advisors need to offer valuable advice to producers : observation, critical thinking, problem-solving, records assessment, calculations, communication and leadership.
On-farm work includes sample-taking, auditing, set-up and bird-handling. Candidates tackle a group case-study which is then presented to the class. Candidates can purchase a toolbox of useful equipment to assist them during poultry farm visits.
Ideal for those thinking of starting a poultry venture or for those producing poultry products who would like to improve their profitability and understand the market better. The workshop includes discussions, short written tasks, role plays and calculations. All examples and case studies are specific to poultry and delegates are is encouraged to apply the principles to their unique circumstances and to plan a strategy for their own business.
Topics covered include :
These courses are ideal for the supervisor or junior manager on a poultry unit. Goal one is to expand on the delegates’ technical knowledge of their particular production area, be it broilers, commercial layers, pullet rearing, breeders or chick production. The emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ behind on-farm activities and the potential consequences of poor work performance.
Goal two is to grow the candidates’ leadership and communication skills to enable them to perform their role more effectively. The workplace examples and role plays used to develop skills are based on typical poultry farm situations
A one week course at the KZNPI offers a Stay-and-Learn package as well as the opportunity to meet other people making their way in the poultry industry.
Learning at the KZNPI underpins the “how” of best poultry production practice with the all-important “why”. Delegates then understand the reasoning behind the daily activities and decisions made in the poultry shed.
Classroom time is when learners find out what makes the chicken tick; the basics of anatomy, nutrition, physiology, reproduction, health and disease. With this foundation, the focus moves to understanding sound poultry management practices and how to implement them. The all-important aspect of record keeping is not neglected.
The training material has been prepared by experts and is facilitated in an easy-to-understand format with extensive slide and video content. Questions and class discussions are actively encouraged.
It all comes together on the training farm with practical work where the hands-on stuff is tackled : preparing the brooding area for young chicks, feeding, weighing, monitoring the environment, health assessment, vaccination, egg collection, sample taking and record keeping. Early morning flock checks stress that poultry farming a 24/7 occupation !
There are all classes of poultry on the training farm : broilers and broiler breeders, pullets in rear and commercial layers. This affords the opportunity to experience the poultry speciality of your choice. There is also a small hatchery for those keen on studying the science of incubation and day old chick production.
The experience doesn’t stop there …. Fully catered accommodation is available at the institute in simple, single room hostels with shared bathroom facilities. Alternatively there are a number of other accommodation options close to the KZNPI. Evenings can be spent chatting with fellow delegates, watching some TV or challenging your classmates to a game of pool or table soccer.
We are an accredited AgriSeta Education and Training Provider and are also accredited for the NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN POULTRY PRODUCTION – NQF Level 3. This 6 – 8 month qualification covers basic avian biology, all poultry production disciplines as well as risk management modules, elementary human resource management and basic financial skills. Approximately 40% of the course is practical and includes visits to working farms, supply and support industries. A minimum of 20 students are required per learnership and funding is sought to support each learnership programme.
Although full-time learnerships leading to this qualification have been held at the institute, it is more cost-effective for candidates and their company sponsors to opt for the distance option whereby theory components are self-studied with the aid of assignments that are submitted electronically.
Practical work is either done in three two-week blocks at the KZNPI or alternatively, our Assessor will travel to the candidate’s place of work to assess both theoretical and practical components of the qualification (for candidate groups of six or more).