Seed Germination - Time Lapse Video

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

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

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

Meiosis Animation

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.