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 1 - 2023
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 In Class
The residential school was a highlight of the unit
Continue to ensure that the residential school provides new and unique opportunities to students across a number of industries.
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluation
Greater student assistance and feedback with assessment tasks
Continue to provide zoom pop in assessment help sessions as an additional opportunity for students to receive assistance with their assessment tasks.
- 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
This book is available to read online through the Library website. If you would like your own copy, you can purchase either paper or eBook copies at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code).
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Microsoft Word
- Camera and microphone for attending Zoom tutorials and completing presentation assessment task
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
Livestock management and running a successful enterprise
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Livestock Innovations (Part A - Group presentation) Due: Week 5 Friday (7 Apr 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
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
Sustainability within systems, future challenges and innovations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Products and markets, market specifications and meat quality
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Farm biosecurity practices, spread of disease and investigating pathogens
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Livestock Innovations (Part B - Individual written report) Due: Week 9 Friday (12 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Residential school
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The residential school will be held on 15/5/2023 – 16/5/2023
Practical Portfolio Due: Week 10 Tuesday (16 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Livestock production summary
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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%):
Prepare and deliver an 8-minute group presentation, introducing an assigned livestock production system (poultry, pigs, dairy, beef or sheep). You will be assigned a group and required to pre-record a presentation that covers the following aspects:
- The scale and size of the industry in Australia
- The geographic and climatic location of this livestock production system and at least two reasons why
- An overview of the annual production calendar
- One difference between this livestock production system in Australia compared to overseas
PART B - Individual written report (15%):
Using the same livestock production system as Part A - Group presentation, select one innovation for this system (each member of the group must have a different innovation). Prepare an individual report (essay format) which includes the following components:
- Introduction to the innovation (technology, management decision etc) within the livestock production system and give a brief history of its development
- Impacts of the innovation on business goals and objectives for a specific enterprise
- How can the innovation improve the livestock enterprise?
- Are there costs (both financial and physical/social/time etc) associated with implementation of this innovation?
- An assessment of whether or not this innovation should be utilised in the specific system in Australia
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, Friday (7 April. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST; PART B due Week 9, Friday (12 May. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST
Grades will be returned within 21 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.
Vacation Week Friday (14 Apr 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
All parts of this assessment are due on Moodle
Week 7 Wednesday (26 Apr 2023)
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 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 activity of the residential school.
Week 10 Tuesday (16 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Practical Portfolio is due at the conclusion of the residential school
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (6 June 2023)
Grades will be returned within 21 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 Wednesday (7 June 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
The online test can be attempted anytime throughout the week, but must be submitted by Wednesday (7 June. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST
Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)
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?
