Agricultural Science Digital Resources

Seed Germination - Time Lapse Video

2011-10-03T15:38:00.001+01:00

This excellent short video outlines the germination of maize seeds, root & shoot formation & crop establishment. A very useful resource for teaching plant reproduction.

Meet the Super Cow

2010-11-25T18:26:00.000Z

This excellent video, from National Geographic, shows how aggressive selective breeding strategies can result in greater levels of musculature in beef animals.

Rotary Milking Parlour

2010-11-23T15:48:00.000Z

This excellent video shows just how a rotary milking parlour can work to milk large numbers of cows in an efficient manner.

Meiosis Animation

2010-11-16T15:05:00.000Z

We previously posted a brilliant animation showing the stages of mitosis. This second video, produced by the same individual, looks at the stages of meiosis or reduction division. A brilliant animation.

Cash Cows

2010-11-16T07:00:00.000Z

This extract from the Farmers' Journal Cash Cows DVD gives an excellent brief introduction to calving, calf rearing, various types of milking parlours, grazing forage crops, grazing management and more. A good introduction to an extremely useful video for Ag Science teachers and pupils.

Sheep Drenching (or Worming)

2010-11-15T20:39:00.001Z

This excellent short video sees Adam Henson (from BBC's Countryfile) show the correct procedures for sheep drenching (or worming)and asks what are the common errors made during the process.

Reversible Ploughing

2010-09-09T13:15:00.001+01:00

A short video which demonstrates the use of a reversible plough. The ploughing is being carried out in preparation for the sowing of sugar beet. Useful for explaining how a reversible plough works and how the direction is changed.

Producing Maize Silage

2010-08-12T13:32:00.000+01:00

In this year's Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science exam, there was a question about the benefits of growing maize silage. Not many Agricultural Science teachers would be familiar with the growth of maize silage and the stages involved (me included). But here is a video form YouTube from an Irish farm making maize silage. It features both photos and short video clips of the main stages in the production of maize silage. Also, some might find this article from Teagasc on maize silage being used as a winter feed for dairy farms interesting and informative. Click here to read the article. Another interesting and easily followed article, from UK Agriculture, on maize silage is here.

Poultry Farming in the US

2010-07-09T19:26:00.003+01:00

This excellent video, although set in the US, is a great way to introduce poultry farming to your Agricultural Science class. It outlines the products of poultry as well as the high level of hygiene required. An excellent video.

A Cow's Digestive System

2010-05-10T21:32:00.000+01:00

This short video clearly outlines the digestive system of the cow and describes the function of the rumen in the process. Using animation (projected on a cow) the presenter makes it immediately easier to understand the differences between the ruminant and the mongastric.

Importance of Crop Rotation - Video

2010-05-03T11:11:00.000+01:00

This very short video outlines clearly the purpose and benefits of crop rotation - sometimes a different voice is useful!

Transport of Water in Plants - Video & Animation

2010-04-27T23:39:00.001+01:00

This classic scene from the brilliant Private Life of Plants series from the BBC (presented by David Attenborough and available on Amazon for a fiver) shows how water is transported through xylem tubes from the roots to the leaves. It contains some excellent animation of the xylem structure and the journey of water. An excellent video clip but go buy the DVD!

The Components of Blood and Their Functions

2010-04-24T23:20:00.000+01:00

Another great short narrated animation which outlines the components of blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma) and briefly explains each of their functions.

Sheep Revision Crossword

2010-04-23T23:27:00.000+01:00

Here is a link to an online interactive crossword to aid revision of sheep management - designed for the Irish Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science syllabus. Click here to begin.

This crossword is just one of a whole series of interactive and printable activities available on FarmNet Teacher - an online resource for teachers of Agricultural Science. It's no longer being updated but has plenty of material of use. Click here to visit.

There is also a FarmNet designed for pupils. Click here to visit.

Making Hay

2010-04-20T23:03:00.004+01:00

This short video (2 minutes and 15 seconds) briefly shows how to make hay, from cutting to tedding to baling. The video shows the production of small square bales using fairly antiquated machinery but it gets the point across.

Plant Reproduction - Methods of Pollination

2010-04-19T11:16:00.002+01:00

This short video details insect and wind pollination and how plants have evolved to suit their pollinators. It also outlines the difference between self and cross pollination.

Lambing Live - Video

2010-04-14T10:59:00.000+01:00

This short but very clear video shows a lamb being born on a farm in Wales. It was filmed as part of the BBC's Lambing Live series.

Biotechnology in Agriculture

2010-04-08T12:03:00.004+01:00

This excellent half hour video looks at the role biotechnology plays in agriculture and medicine. It's is one of the best videos I've ever come across on YouTube and is an essential in terms of teaching genetics in Ag. Science. The video looks at selective breeding, AI, genetic engineering and cloning. Learn about both biomedical and agricultural applications of animal biotechnology and some of the science-based and ethical concerns that are engendered by certain applications.

Extreme Sheep Herding - Video

2010-04-02T12:33:00.000+01:00

Not everything we do in the classroom need be serious. There are some excellent YouTube videos which show the funny side of agriculture. Here is one of the most popular videos on YouTube, with over 11 million views. It shows a group of farmers in Wales, armed with thousands of LED's and a few sheep, performing some amazing tricks!

Oxygen Transport - Animation

2010-03-29T16:41:00.000+01:00

This excellent animation outlines mechanism for the transportation of oxygen in your body, from its collection in the alveoli of the lungs, its binding to haemoglobin in the red blood cells and subsequent absorption by tissues in the body. It is an excellent introduction to oxygen transport or osmosis.

Video - Milking Machine

2010-03-25T08:59:00.000Z

A short video, showing the milking process clearly. This is an excellent introduction to the milking machine, although there is no commentary.

Video - Wrapping Silage Bales

2010-03-23T09:50:00.000Z

This video shows a silage bale being wrapped using a Conor Bale Wrapper. A great little video.

Video - Silage Cutting in Cork

2010-03-23T09:46:00.001Z

This video shows the silage cutting processa Fendt 820 mowing with front and rear mounted mowers. It also outlines two Fendt 820 tractors with two Pottinger Silage Wagons 6000 collecting the cut silage and tranporting it to the pit. It doesn't outlined the sealing of the pit or there is no commentary.

Flagella & Cilia

2010-03-22T20:06:00.002Z

Another useful video for microbiology, this gem shows how some Protista use flagella or cilia to aid propulsion.

Bacterial Growth

2010-03-22T20:02:00.001Z

This very short video shows the exponential growth of bacteria in culture. A great introduction to bacterial reproduction and the growth curve.

Semen Collection - Video

2010-03-16T13:05:00.000Z

Creating the genetically perfect baby may not yet be an option, but in the farming world, creating the perfect calves has become the norm. Ella McSweeney spends the day with a local AI expert to see just what is involved in inseminating cows. Ella follows the inseminator around farms in Ireland. She witnesses the cutting edge technology used to create genetically superior calves, and meets Ireland's top breeding bulls, one who has fathered over 10,000 calves. All Rights To RTÉ.

Artificial Insemination - Video

2010-03-16T11:44:00.001Z

This video outlines the main stage in using Artificial Insemination (AI).

Harvesting Cereals - Video

2010-03-16T11:20:00.002Z

This is a good 10 min video showing the range of operations on a (high tech) tillage farm at harvest. The video shows a combine harvester working (Lexion) ,grain being drawn in to yard, batch grain dryer, grain store, straw being baled and drawn home. No voice over. Gives a good overview of this busy period.

Ridge Cultivation - Video

2010-03-16T11:16:00.001Z

This is a very clear video of ridge cultivation for preparation of seeding potatoes.

Body Condition Scoring

2010-03-16T11:15:00.000Z

This video outlines how to test an animal's condition score. It is based on the US system (which goes from 1-10, rather than our 1-5 system) but the principal of testing is the same.

Mitosis - Video

2010-03-16T11:14:00.000Z

This animation of cell division is an excellent introduction to the topic.

Effects of Liver Fluke - Video

2010-03-16T11:12:00.001Z

This video shows Professor Michael Doherty, UCD, discussing the effects of liverfluke on livestock.

Harvesting Potatoes - Video

2010-03-16T11:09:00.001Z

This video shows potatoes being harvested. A useful video but not essential to show all of it.

Calving - Video

2010-03-16T11:05:00.002Z

This excellent video details the calving process and the initial care of the lamb after birth.

Liver Fluke - Video

2010-03-16T11:04:00.001Z

This video shows immature liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) wriggling in the cut section of the liver of a sheep that had just died due to acute fasciolosis.

Digestion in Horses - Video

2010-03-16T11:01:00.000Z

A excellent 3D, computer generated, trip through the equine digestive system.

Digestion - Video

2010-03-16T10:56:00.000Z

Using 3D imagery, this short video gives an overview of the human digestive system.

Lambs in Nursery - Video

2010-03-16T10:52:00.000Z

This video outlines the initial care of lambs directly after birth e.g. iodine, colostrum etc.

Active Transport - Video

2010-03-16T10:50:00.000Z

A short video to demonstrate how active transport allows for cells to "pump" nutrients against the concentration gradient.

Osmosis - Video

2010-03-16T10:49:00.000Z

Osmosis is the diffusion of water down its concentration gradient. Normally one thinks of water as the solvent, and focuses on the concentration of the solutes, but water itself has a concentration in any solution.

Lambing - Video

2010-03-16T10:47:00.002Z

A short video showing assisted lambing of twins.

Transpiration - Video

2010-03-16T10:44:00.000Z

This short video shows how water moves through a plant until it exits through the leaves.

Soil Texture Experiment - Video

2010-03-16T10:39:00.000Z

Learn all about soil texture and how to test for clay, silt and sand. See how these relative amounts of sand, silt and clay affect drainage.

Pig Production - Video

2010-03-15T19:31:00.001Z

This short video takes a look at the pig production in Australia.The video sees the host take a tour of the piggery from conception, to birth to the fattening shed.

Video - Harvesting Barley

2010-03-15T15:54:00.000Z

This high quality video showing harvesting technology, good shots of ripe barley, good view of lodged barley, detail of harvesting, unloading of grain, fieldwork etc. (Unfortunately the introduction is in French but otherwise relevant).