Overview
In this unit, you will learn the fundamentals of livestock production by gaining exposure to a range of extensive and intensive livestock production systems. You will learn about livestock anatomy, nutrition, health, welfare, management and markets, and enhance your knowledge on current issues, innovations and new and emerging opportunities for precision livestock management. As a foundation unit, the learning outcomes will provide you with the necessary knowledge for future units in the Bachelor of Agriculture.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Have Your Say
Practicals and field trips were poorly organised, and resources often not available when managed by QATC.
This unit relied on practical support by QATC, which resulted in inconsistent practical and field trip opportunities depending on the campus, even though weekly meetings were held for all first year Ag units. No CQU technical or practical support in EMD also made the organisation of practicals difficult. This unit has since been updated for 2020 with the introduction of residential schools, rather than weekly practicals and field trips. This will ensure all students have a consistent experience, access to resources and are highly organised due to the availability of technical support at ROK and BDG campuses, where residential schools will be held.
Feedback from Have Your Say
Practicals and field trips related well to lecture material and were an invaluable learning experience.
Continue to ensure practicals and field trips during future residential schools are relevant to lecture material and engaging. Maintain industry connections to ensure these sites can be used annually.
Feedback from Have Your Say
More time needed to be spent on basic chemistry and biology principles.
The first year of the Bachelor of Agriculture has undergone rejuvenation, with the introduction of a first year biology unit, and an Introduction to Agriculture unit from 2020 to cover basic concepts required for other units. This will provide more time to cover basic chemistry and biology principles.
- Determine management options and production targets for a livestock enterprise
- Select, test and implement appropriate livestock innovations into farm activities
- Develop a livestock management and risk mitigation plan
- Critique and apply the ethics and legal requirements of livestock management systems.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||
| 2 - Peer assessment - 5% | ||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||
| 4 - Online Test - 30% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Peer assessment - 5% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Online Test - 30% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Beef Cattle Production and Trade
(2014)
Authors: David Cottle, Lewis Kahn
CSIRO Publishing
Collingwood Collingwood , VIC , Australia
ISBN: 9780643109889
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks can be purchased at the publisher's website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Google Earth Pro
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Microsoft Word
- Video Recording Device (Camcorder, Digital Camera, Smartphone, etc.)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.k.manning@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit introduction, assessment requirements and introduction to Australian livestock systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Basic animal anatomy with livestock examples
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Livestock physiology and digestion, with a focus on ruminants and monogastrics
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Basic animal nutrition, differences between livestock species, feed rations and designs
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
In class presentations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Livestock Innovations (Part A - Group presentation) Due: Week 5 Monday (10 Aug. 2020) 9:00 am AEST and presented in class
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Livestock management and the requirements that are involved in the running of a successful enterprise
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Products and markets, market specifications and meat quality
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Take home practical sessions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainability within systems, future challenges and innovations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to livestock behaviour and its relevance to low stress handling
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Livestock Innovations (Part B - Individual written assessment) Due: Week 11 Monday (28 Sep. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Ethical and legal requirements of livestock production
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Due to COVID-19 impacts at the time of preparing this unit profile, the residential school attached to this unit for Term 2 2020 has been postponed and will need to be completed at a later date. The residential school will be reduced, with some activities occurring throughout the term remotely. Further details will be made available on the unit Moodle site in due course.
1 Presentation and Written Assessment
This assessment, “Livestock innovations” compromises of two (2) parts and accounts for 25% of your final mark:
PART A - Group presentation (10%):
Create a livestock calendar of operations for your chosen livestock system (e.g., poultry, pigs, dairy, beef, sheep etc.) presented in the form of a production calendar, in a style of your choosing (e.g., table, powerpoint, poster). You will be assigned a partner and will be required to present your livestock calendar of operations together in 5 minutes and discuss the following aspects:
- Introduce your chosen livestock system and calendar of operations
- Discuss a minimum of two key aspects of the production cycle for your chosen livestock system and why the timing of these is crucial to the enterprise
- Outline at least one innovation relevant to your chosen livestock system
PART B - Individual written report (15%):
Analyse at least 3 livestock activities from your calendar of operations (Part A – Group presentation), discuss an innovation and prepare an individual report (essay format) that includes the following components:
- Business objective and goal
- Analysis of livestock operations including your three livestock activities
- Identify what improvements could be made for your three livestock activities e.g., timing, implementation of technology etc.
- Introduction to an innovation (e.g., technology, management decision etc.) within the livestock system
- Discuss the benefits of implementing your innovation within this livestock system
The information provided in the essay must be supported by use of references.
This assessment will be in the format of an essay (1200-1500 words) and must include an introduction, body, conclusion and references.
The marking rubrics will be available on Moodle.
PART A due Week 5, Monday (10 Aug. 2020) 9:00 am AEST (and presented in class); PART B due Week 11, Monday (28 Sept. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2020)
Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.
Marks are awarded for:
- Communication and presentation skills
- Introduction and addressing the topic including the chosen livestock system, key aspects and an innovation
- Knowledge, content and structure
- Analysis of information
- Discussion of improvements that can be made for the selected livestock events for the chosen livestock system and benefits in implementing an innovation
- The clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar
- Use of references and accuracy of referencing
- Appropriate timeframe (Part A) and length (Part B)
Detailed marking rubrics will also be available on Moodle.
- Select, test and implement appropriate livestock innovations into farm activities
- Develop a livestock management and risk mitigation plan
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Peer assessment
After Assessment 1 Livestock Innovations Part A - Group presentation, you will evaluate your assigned partner based on their:
- Attendance to group meetings
- Contribution to the fair share of the work
- Completion of the work on time and accurately
- Dependability
The peer evaluation will be available on Moodle.
Week 6 Monday (24 Aug 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 6 Friday (28 Aug 2020)
Grades will be returned once all group members have finished their evaluation or within 10 working days of submission.
Peer evaluation marks are awarded for their team member's:
- Attendance to group meetings
- Contribution to the fair share of the work
- Completion of the work on time and accurately
- Dependability
- Select, test and implement appropriate livestock innovations into farm activities
- Develop a livestock management and risk mitigation plan
- Team Work
- Ethical practice
3 Portfolio
The practical portfolio relates to practical sessions and the residential school, where you will be required to complete a series of activities or short response questions. A copy of the practical portfolio will be available on Moodle including specific details for each practical session.
To be confirmed - further details will be made available on the unit Moodle site in due course.
Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.
Marks are awarded for attendance, participation, completion, correct responses to questions and submission of all practical activities and the residential school.
- Determine management options and production targets for a livestock enterprise
- Develop a livestock management and risk mitigation plan
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
4 Online Test
The online test will consist of multiple choice, short response and case study questions related to content delivered during lectures and tutorials throughout the term. It can be attempted anytime throughout the week, but once the online test has commenced, it must be submitted within 3 hours.
Review/Exam Week Friday (16 Oct 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
The online test can be attempted anytime throughout the week, but must be submitted by Friday (16 Oct. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2020)
Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.
Marks are based on correct responses to questions.
- Develop a livestock management and risk mitigation plan
- Critique and apply the ethics and legal requirements of livestock management systems.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
