CQUniversity Unit Profile
AGRI12001 Livestock Health and Welfare
Livestock Health and Welfare
All details in this unit profile for AGRI12001 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
Corrections

Unit Profile Correction added on 06-04-20

The face-to-face practical components for this unit have been postponed and you will need to complete these at a later date in a block (intensive) format. Further details about the practical components will be made available on Moodle in due course.

General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with an holistic approach to evaluating and maintaining livestock health and well-being. You will learn about the key concepts of livestock welfare and their applications, and the cause, impact, treatment and prevention of livestock diseases, including selected exotic and zoonotic diseases.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisites: AGRI11003 Livestock Production Management

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 - 2020

Bundaberg
Emerald
Online
Rockhampton

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
2. Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Presentation
Weighting: 20%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Moodle feedback In class feedback

Feedback

Dissections in practicals

Recommendation

Practicals should include more dissections. Previously a concern with this was the ability to manage dissections in three locations, however, the unit coordinator should liaise with the practical tutors and technical staff in other locations to establish a video link that would ensure that all students are conducting the dissection concurrently.

Feedback from Moodle feedback In class feedback

Feedback

Order of classes

Recommendation

Practicals for a particular topic should only be conducted after at least the lecture on that same topic. The sequence of learning activities should follow a pattern of: Lecture > Tutorial > Practical or Lecture > Practical > Tutorial. Conducting the practical after the lecture ensures that all students have the requisite knowledge to participate in the practical.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Evaluate the health and welfare of livestock.
  2. Develop and implement health and welfare strategies for livestock within an enterprise.
  3. Critique the animal welfare codes of practice and legislation for inclusion in a production plan and enterprise procedure.
  4. Develop and monitor a best practice treatment plan.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Presentation - 20%
3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 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 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Presentation - 20%
3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Access to a spreadsheet program such as Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Word processing software such as MS Word
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Saba Sinai Unit Coordinator
s.sinai@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Why Does Livestock Health and Welfare Matter?

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 1 Practical

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Livestock Diseases: the Basics

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 2 Practical

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Biosecurity and Zoonosis: Protecting People and Livestock

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 3 Practical

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Animal Welfare Laws and Regulations

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 2: Practical Component (In Week 4 Practical Session)

Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Integumentary System and Ectoparasites

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 5 Practical



Animal Welfare Essay and Practical Assessment Due: Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Musculoskeletal & Nervous Systems

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 6 Practical

Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Circulatory System and Blood-Borne Diseases

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 7 Practical

Field Trip

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2020

Module/Topic

Respiratory System and Livestock Health in Intensive Agriculture

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 8 Practical

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2020

Module/Topic

Digestive System and Nutritional Diseases

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 9 Practical

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2020

Module/Topic

Reproductive System and Developmental Disorders

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1: Participation in Week 10 Practical

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2020

Module/Topic

Animal Stress and the Endocrine System

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1 Part 2: Practical Portfolio due on Friday the 29th of May (Week 11) at 11:45PM.

Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Animal Welfare Issues and Innovations

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Livestock Disease Treatment Plan Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Practical Portfolio

Task Description

The Practical Portfolio (50%) comprises of two components:

Part 1: Participation in practicals (10%). You will be required to attend and participate in weekly practicals (weeks 1 to 10). Each week you will participate in laboratory-based practical activities. Participation in-class will enable you to complete part two (practical portfolio). Attendance for each practical accounts for 1% x 10 weekly practicals, a total of 10% for the unit.

Part 2: Practical Portfolio (40%). You are required to answer a series of questions related to each weekly practical and to submit all of your answers in week 11. All of the questions relevant to this component will be provided to you at the beginning of term on Moodle. In addition to your answers, you may include appropriately captioned figures, tables and graphs. The total word count for your Practical Portfolio should remain within ±10% of 4500 words. The title, figure/table/graph captions, in-text references and reference list are not included in the word count.

This assessment task will require you to draw on a variety of resources, including peer-reviewed academic articles and government resources. A marking rubric will be made available for this assessment on Moodle. You must achieve at least 50% of the marks for this assessment to pass the unit.


Assessment Due Date

The Practical Portfolio will be due on Friday the 29th of May (Week 11) at 11:45PM. Weekly participation in practicals will be assessed by the practical tutor.


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Friday (12 June 2020)


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

In addition to marks for your attendance at weekly practical sessions, you will be assessed on:

· Your understanding of the basic biology of livestock diseases/health issues and how they impact livestock production

· Your understanding of animal welfare issues

· Your understanding of prevention, biosecurity and treatment strategies

· Your ability to identify, analyse and explain relevant laws, regulations and disease reporting requirements

· Your adherence to the word count (within allowable 10% leeway)

· Clear and understandable writing

· Consistent and relevant referencing

· Any formatting with regards to figures, table and graphs, including clear captions

· Your ability to draw on a variety of resources, mostly from government documents, industry publications and peer-reviewed academic journal articles to support your claims


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Your Practical Portfolio must be submitted through Moodle as a Word document

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate the health and welfare of livestock.
  • Develop and implement health and welfare strategies for livestock within an enterprise.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Practical and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Animal Welfare Essay and Practical Assessment

Task Description

Animal welfare codes of practice are important documents for Australia’s livestock production systems. Animal welfare codes of practice contain standards, guidelines and other information required to ensure the humane treatment of animals. Animal welfare codes of practice require persons responsible for the day-to-day needs of animals under their control are cared for. However, increased societal expectations around animal welfare has led many to believe that the livestock industry’s “welfare credentials” must continually be fulfilling or exceeding consumer expectations. An increasing body of scientific knowledge on animal welfare also guides the industry's approach to animal welfare. As such, in this assessment you will critique the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs (3rd edition).

This assessment comprises of two components. The first component is an individual task where you must complete a number of practical-based questions related to the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs (3rd edition). The questions will be provided to you through Moodle and will be based on the Week 4 learning activities (lecture, tutorial and practical). You are to submit your responses through Moodle on Monday 06/04/2020 at 11:45PM.  The individual component is worth 10% of the unit. More information about this individual component will be provided to you in Moodle and in the Week 4 practical session.

The second part of this assessment is a 1500-word essay to be completed in groups of three to four students. Students will be placed in groups in week 1. Your group must select and critique a subsection from one of the following sections of the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs (3rd edition): 3 Food and Water; 4 Accommodation; or 5 Husbandry. In your group discuss both whether or not the selected subsection should be adapted in light of the scientific understanding of livestock welfare and/or social perspectives around the ethical treatment pigs in livestock production. Based on your group's discussion, select a position and write an essay in the following format. The essay component is worth 20% of the unit. The essay will be due on Monday 06/04/2020 (Week 5) at 11:45PM.

Your essay should follow the basic format (approximate word counts in parentheses):

1. Introduction (~300 words)

2. Body: with various subheadings (the names and content of which depend on your argument) (~1000 words)

3. Conclusion (~200 words)

4. References

You must achieve at least 50% of the marks for this assessment (both parts) to pass the unit.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Monday (20 Apr 2020)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

For the individual component you will be assessed on your ability to correctly answer the questions associated with the practical activity.

For the group component your submission will be assessed on your group's ability to articulate aspects of the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs (3rd edition), the strength of your argument, your ability to communicate effectively (including proper punctuation and grammar) and your ability to draw on a variety of resources and evidence to support your argument. You must remain within 10% over and 10% under the word count (1500 words). A marking rubric will be made available for this assessment on Moodle


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Submission Instructions
For the group component, only one student is required to submit the group submission. Each student will be required to submit their own Part 1 document (individual component).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critique the animal welfare codes of practice and legislation for inclusion in a production plan and enterprise procedure.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Presentation

Assessment Title
Livestock Disease Treatment Plan

Task Description

Develop a livestock disease treatment and prevention plan for one of the following diseases:

o Coccidiosis in goats

o Spotty liver disease in chickens

o Buffalo fly infestation in cattle

o Iron deficiency in piglets

o Lumpy wool in sheep

Present your treatment plan in the form of a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation (with audio), targeted at Australian livestock producers for the relevant species.

The emphasis of your presentation should be on prevention and treatment strategies, and should include the following components:

o Introduce the disease: pathogen, hosts, severity, pathogenesis, domestic and international distribution, and the implications of the disease on production

o Diagnosis, signs and symptoms of the disease

o Suggest relevant prevention and treatment methods. Provide instructions on how to administer specific treatments.

o Outline strategies to monitor and adjust the treatment plan.

o Provide brief concluding remarks

o Provide a list of references (This should just appear as a slide at the end of your presentation, it is not necessary to read through it)

Your presentation must be in a PowerPoint format (with audio) and uploaded onto the Moodle site for this unit. Do not submit a video. Instructions on how to add audio to a PowerPoint Presentation can be found here: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/record-a-slide-show-with-narration-and-slide-timings-0b9502c6-5f6c-40ae-b1e7-e47d8741161c

Presentations must be no shorter than 14 minutes and no longer than 15 minutes.

You must reference at least 10 sources, including 5 peer-reviewed academic journal articles and demonstrate this in your presentation (Reference list on last slide(s)).

You must achieve at least 50% of the marks for this assessment to pass the unit.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (19 June 2020)


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be marked based on your:

1. Ability to discuss all the required components with support from references

2. Clear and professional communication

3. Incorporation of economically relevant considerations

4. Adherence to the time limit


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Your presentation must be in a PowerPoint or similar format (with audio) and uploaded onto the Moodle site for this unit. Do not submit a video. Instructions on how to add audio to a PowerPoint Presentation can be found here: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/record-a-slide-show-with-narration-and-slide-timings-0b9502c6-5f6c-40ae-b1e7-e47d8741161c

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop and monitor a best practice treatment plan.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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?