| Semester 1, 2021 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Animal Production Systems |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Sciences |
| Student contribution band : | Band 1 |
| ASCED code : | 050105 - Animal Husbandry |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Rationale
The animal production sector is critical to the health of regional Australian and the economy. It is important that the individuals supporting the animal production industries are familiar with the methods of producing livestock products (milk, meat, and fibre). Such knowledge and associated critical and creative thinking, will be required to ensure that productivity in the animal industries continues in a landscape with increasing constrained biophysical resources. Knowledge of the interactions between the production system, animal welfare outcomes, and broader environmental impacts will also be important so graduates can contribute to the sustainability of the broader agricultural landscape. Understanding consumer expectations regarding the production of safe and sustainable food, animal welfare, and environmental impacts will prepare graduates for the future opportunities and challenges facing the animal production sector.
Synopsis
The course examines and critically evaluates the production systems used for extensive and intensive animal production to produce milk, meat and fibre. Extensive grazing, intensive grazing, dairy, feedlot and housed systems will be covered. Through lectures, tutorials and site visits, students will examine and evaluate these production systems from their production, sustainability, food safety and quality and animal welfare perspectives.
This course contains a highly recommended residential school for both external and on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).
Objectives
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- Explain the characteristics of the main animal production systems used in Australian animal agriculture;
- Apply competence in the design and analysis of animal production systems;
- Apply an appreciation for the principles of animal husbandry used to produce meat, milk and animal fibre;
- Critically evaluate the natural, demographic, logistical economic, and political pressures facing animal production systems.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Extensive/rangeland grazing systems | 18.00 |
| 2. | Intensive grazing systems | 18.00 |
| 3. | Feedlot systems | 18.00 |
| 4. | Dairy production systems | 18.00 |
| 5. | Housed animal production systems | 18.00 |
| 6. | Aquaculture production systems | 10.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2021&sem=01&subject1=AGR2201)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 65.00 |
| Lectures | 26.00 |
| Private Study | 50.00 |
| Residential Schools | 24.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 100 | 30 | 29 Mar 2021 | 1,2,3,4 | (see note 1) |
| Case Study Presentation | 100 | 30 | 24 May 2021 | 1,2,3,4 | (see note 2) |
| Open Examination - Online | 100 | 40 | End S1 | 1,2,3,4 | (see note 3) |
Notes
- Examiner to advise due date of Assignment 1.
- Examiner to advise due date of Case Study Presentation. Both external and on-campus students are highly recommended to attend the residential school as the residential school is linked to an assessment or an element of assessment preparation.
- This will be an Open Examination - Online. Examiner will advise further details.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
This course contains a highly recommended residential school for both external and on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).
Students must attend and complete the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety training program for this course where required. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Examination information:
An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Normally Deferred and Supplementary Examinations are held in the next Examination period. In S1 2021 selected courses will pilot an early Deferred and Supplementary Examination period held within 30 business days of results release. The list of courses involved can be found at . -
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (.
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Referencing in assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. This guide can be found at .
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This course contains a highly recommended residential school for both external and on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).
Evaluation and benchmarking
In meeting the University’s aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways.
This course:
- Conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.
- Forms part of the Bachelor of Science and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include:
(ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and
(iii) regular and rigorous review.
Other requirements
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Computer, e-mail and Internet access:
Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at -
Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in this course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect the same grades as those students who do possess them.
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This course contains a highly recommended residential school for both external and on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).