BSc (Veterinary Biosciences) Level 1 Animal Production and Management - 1 (2008-09) 10 Credits Course Co-ordinator: Professor J J Parkins Position in Course: Year 1 Semester 1 Course prerequisites: None Course corequisites: Courses Chemistry 1 (402B) (Chemistry) Biology 1A (Animal biology) (KNPU) (FBLS) Biology 1B (Cell biology) (KNMU) (FBLS) Basic mammalian body plan 1 (FVM) Comparative vertebrate morphology 1 (FVM) Body systems physiology 1 (FVM) Credits 40 20 20 10 10 10 Excluded courses or course combinations: None 1
Aims The aims of this course are to: give participants the means of acquiring a broad-based knowledge and understanding of the major farm animal production systems ranging from instruction on basic agronomy and animal environments through to an overview of the rural economy of the UK. demonstrate and facilitate the acquisition of animal handling skills and provide experience of practical farm animal working environments at key points in annual production cycles. encourage awareness of contemporary animal production in contributing to the well-being of animals and man and of the ethical and welfare issues which surround these. allow students to prepare foundation knowledge prior to their later study of advanced animal nutrition and welfare topics. Intended Learning Outcomes After completing this course you should be able to: describe the underpinning biological and production processes involved in modern farm animal systems in the UK. restrain, body condition score and age cattle and sheep. recognise and describe the stages of production of farm animals on-farm. obtain, recall and explain material gathered for preparing topic tasks. write concise and informative reports from self-directed work. show proficiency in the use of computer web-based and library search engines to obtain information for project topics. demonstrate collaboration with others in investigating specified topics and solving problems. Teaching Methods Lectures Farm-based practical classes and other field visits Self-directed study Collaborative Learning Assignments Tutorials Assessment Summative Students will be required to produce two coursework essays, each comprising 15% of the summative assessment. The end-of-course examination (70% of the summative assessment) will consist of a 1.5-hour paper consisting of short essay questions where a choice of question will be offered and compulsory multiple-choice questions. 2
Lecturing Staff - to be agreed Teaching Methods and Hours: Animal Production and Management 1 will be delivered during the first semesters of Year 1. The course will be comprised of a weekly lecture schedule, practical classes and will be complemented by self-directed assignments. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Moodle virtual learning environment system will be used to access lecture PowerPoint presentations and all written notes. Recommended reading: Students should visit the DEFRA website and download and print the booklets on welfare codes for the different domestic species listed on: - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/on-farm.htm There are no specific books requiring to be purchased for this course. In most cases, course notes on the topic areas will be provided and are accessible from Moodle. Books to be found in the James Herriott library, which should be consulted as appropriate include: - Management & Welfare of Farm Animals, UFAW Animal Husbandry, Thomas et al (Bailliere Tindall) Farm Animals, Husbandry, Behaviour and Veterinary Practice, M.W. Fox Livestock, Health and Housing, Sainsbury and Sainsbury (Bailliere Tindall) Understanding the Dairy Cow, John Webster (Collins) Cattle Behaviour, Phillips, (Farming Press) The Calf, Management of Health, Roy revised edition 2000, (Butterworth) Milk Production, Science and Practice, Leaver (Longman) Planned Beef Production, Allen & Kilkenny (Granada) Veterinary Book for Sheep Farmers, D. Henderson (Farming Press) Sheep Production, Science into Practice, Speedy (Longman) Practical Lambing and Lamb Care, Eales, Small & Macaldowie (3 rd ed Blackwell) Sheep Yearbook, Meat and Livestock Commission 2007 The Science & Practice of Pig Production, Whittemore (Longman) Poultry, Health & Management, Sainsbury (Granada) Raising Small Animals, Moody (Farming Press) Manual of Canine Behaviour, BSAVA, V. O'Farrell Dog and Cat Nutrition - commercial booklets will be supplied The Dog Law Handbook, Sandys-Winsch (Shaw & Sons) Horse Management Ed. J. Hickman Producers' Journals Dairy Farmer, Livestock Farming, Farmer s Guardian, Pig International or Pig Progress, Farmers Weekly, Scottish Farmer (weekly). Web Pages (http://www. ) DEFRA Home Page defra.gov.uk Farmers Weekly Interactive fwi.co.uk National Milk Records nmr.co.uk Institute for Animal Health iah.bbsrc.ac.uk MOODLE Moodle is the University's centrally supported Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The Faculty Moodle site can be accessed from on- or off-campus at: - http://moodle.gla.ac.uk/vet/moodle/ 3
Lecture and practical classes and intended learning outcomes Animal Production and Management 1 Hours per student Lectures 20 Tutorials 5 Farm and other practicals 20 Self directed learning assignments & assessment 55 Totals 100 Lecture content 1 Agronomy principles, applied plant biology, distribution of farming practices in UK 2 Cattle production, reproduction basics, linear type assessment and body condition score. 3 Dairy 1 UK dairy industry, overview of management systems, factors affecting milk composition and hygiene properties, economics. 4 Dairy 2 Breeding replacements, guide to modern dairy cow selection. 5 Dairy 3 Recording systems: production, fertility, milk yield/composition, herd health. 6 Beef 1 Industry structure, beef cow systems. 7 Beef 2 Beef production systems, carcass grading. 8 Sheep 1 UK sheep industry, overview of management systems. 9 Sheep 2 Weaning to conception: selection of breeding stock, breeding management, oestrus synchronisation. 10 Sheep 3 Conception to parturition: feeding, housing, management at lambing, hypothermia. 11 Sheep 4 Parturition to weaning: abortion diseases and vaccinations, lactation, feeding, grazing systems, anthelmintics protocols, lamb carcass classification, store lamb finishing. 12 Poultry 1 The poultry industry, rearing/brooding layers, breeding stock, incubation 13 Poultry 2 Table egg production systems and housing, welfare, 14 Poultry 3 Broiler and turkey production systems 15 Pig 1 Production industry, management systems 16 Pig 2 Pig reproduction, welfare and housing. 17 Housing 1 Types of animal housing, environmental factors, thermal comfort and control systems. Heat loss from buildings, insulation and materials. 18 Housing 2 Humidity and livestock buildings, effects of stocking on environment, methods of environment assessment. 19-20 Welfare Introduction to welfare principles Farm and Practical Classes 1. Cattle handling and body condition scoring 2. Sheep handling and ageing 3. Dairy unit visit 4. Pig visit 5. Housing assessment lab 6. Cat and dog handling 1-6 will require at least 3 hours each (or more e.g. pig visit) Tutorials 1. Cattle 2. Sheep 3. Poultry 1.5 2 hours each 4
Self directed learning Calf rearing and housing Study Guide: PowerPoint and notes provided on Moodle and reference books in library listed. Intended learning outcomes: Agronomy (lecture 1) Understand the distribution of farming practices in UK and how these are determined by climatic, latitudinal, topographical and geological factors. Cattle (lectures 2-7, practical 1) Have knowledge of UK milk industry, annual reproductive events, lactation cycle, milking, milk compositional and hygiene characteristics, housing and health needs of the modern dairy cow in different management systems. To be able to explain the principles of cattle selection and how AI services operate. To understand the structure of the UK beef industry, systems to produce finished cattle from dairy and beef herds, health considerations, breeding and beef cow management features. To know the essential features of the rearing of dairy and suckler beef calves and the husbandry details associated with the rearing of female offspring to first service. Be able to body condition score a cow, assess bodyweight and age, assemble and put on a halter. Sheep (lectures 8-11, practical 2) Understand the behavioural, environmental and nutritional requirements of sheep at different life stages and know basic ovine reproduction data Be conversant with sheep production systems in the UK. Be able to describe prophylactic measures commonly employed for the effective health management of sheep. Appreciate ovine welfare issues. Know the legislation, tagging and movement restrictions relating to sheep. Be able to catch and turn a sheep, age by dentition, take care of hypothermic lambs and have good knowledge of lambing management procedures. Poultry (lectures 12-14) To know and understand the different requirements of layers, broilers and parent stock in terms of how management systems are geared to these needs. To be aware of bird welfare issues and the contradictions that exist in terms of human perceptions. To appreciate that the poultry industry is constantly evolving and that it has a major role to play in human nutrition and to have a knowledge of the economics of poultry production To understand the different management requirements of turkeys. Pig (lectures 15-16) To provide an understand the structure of the pig industry and appreciate those factors affecting profitability with different types of producer. To know the basic biological data concerning the pig and appreciate how genetic selection can affect production and be able to discuss the factors that affect the reproductive performance of a breeding herd. To know the nutritional requirements of the pig at different stages of the life-cycle at a practical level and be aware of the common problems arising from inappropriate nutrition. To appreciate the environmental and management factors that promote health and good welfare in pigs and be aware of the major areas of concern Housing (lectures 17-18) Understand the various factors which affect the environment in livestock buildings. Have an appreciation of the design of animal accommodation. Know the changes that occur in the internal environment of buildings when stocked with animals and the methods used to control these changes. Be able to assess the environment in animal houses. Be able to identify a poor environment and know in principle how this could be improved. Animal welfare (lectures 19-20) 5
Understand different definitions of welfare. Know the different contributions of science, ethics and law to welfare debates. Be aware of the range of welfare and ethical issues. 6