Overview
This unit will provide you with an holistic approach to evaluating and maintaining animal health and well-being in a variety of settings, with a particular focus on livestock industries. You will learn about the key concepts of animal welfare and their applications, as well as the cause, impact, treatment and prevention of animal diseases, including selected exotic and zoonotic diseases. You will develop practical and technical skills that can be used to address animal health and welfare challenges. You will explore some of the regulations regarding animal health and welfare and develop strategies for implementing these in a variety of settings, especially livestock supply chains. You will learn about the importance of animal health and welfare to the economic and social outputs of animal-based industries both in Australia and overseas.
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 - 2022
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 Personal Communication and "Have Your Say"
Residential School
The residential school was well-received and should continue in the same format in 2022.
Feedback from Assessment
Academic Literature
Some students used limited references from academic journals, despite the use of journal articles as learning resources. A refresher in the use of academic literature for learning and assessment should be included at the outset of the term.
- Evaluate the health and welfare of animals
- Develop and implement animal health and welfare strategies
- Critique animal welfare codes of practice and legislation
- Discuss the link between animal health and livestock production economics.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
| 3 - 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 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
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
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.sinai@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Animal Health and Welfare - why Does it Matter?
Chapter
Readings for this unit will be provided via Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Principles of Animal Disease
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Biosecurity and Market Access
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Integumentary System 1
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Integumentary System 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Musculoskeletal and Nervous Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Circulatory and Respiratory Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Digestive System 1: Infectious diseases of the digestive system
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Residential School: 11/05/2022 to 13/05/2022
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: Part A - Residential school attendance and practical task completion.
Module/Topic
Digestive System 2: Nutrition and Toxicology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reproductive and Endocrine Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Zoonoses and Complex Biosecurity
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Assessment 1 is a presentation-based two part assessment relating to the connection between livestock health and market access. Both PART A and PART B are due on the same day, Wednesday the 6th of April at 11:45PM.
Assessment 1 PART A Group presentation (10%)
You will be pre-assigned a group and a low- or middle-income country to prepare and present a 15-minute, pre-recorded PowerPoint (or similar) presentation as a group. In your presentation you must discuss how this country can improve it's livestock production sector, with a particular emphasis on increased livestock product exports (milk, wool, eggs, meat, etc.). You must make biosecurity a key aspect of your considerations for improving market access capabilities of the relevant national livestock industry. All group members will receive the same mark for this assessment. Your presentation should be presented in the following format:
- Introduction and overview of the presentation
- Introduction to the relevant country and its economy.
-
Analysis of the assigned national livestock industry. This may include:
o Historical context.
o Major livestock species.
o Economic performance of the livestock sector.
o Barriers to export growth (this may include major diseases in the livestock sector.)
o Current biosecurity arrangements. -
Future directions for the assigned national livestock industry, including:
o Opportunities for export growth and development.
o Emerging biosecurity challenges.
o Viable strategies to strengthen biosecurity arrangements.
- Statement of contribution
- Conclusion.
- References (you must include at least 15).
Assessment 1 PART B Individual assessment (10%)
You are to select one infection livestock diseases from a list and discuss the role of this disease in global livestock production economics. You are to prepare and present a 5-minute, pre-recorded PowerPoint (or similar) presentation individually. Your presentation must include:
- Introduction to the disease, including: Pathogen/causative agent, mode of transmission, pathogenesis, impact on livestock health.
- The economic impact on livestock production and trade: outbreak history, how the disease impacts livestock production supply chains, impacts to market access, costs of treatment/prevention, trade restrictions, social impacts, other economic impacts.
- Conclusion.
- References (You must include at least 10)
Week 5 Wednesday (6 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Wednesday (20 Apr 2022)
For Part A you will be marked based on your:
1. Ability to describe the relevant livestock industry.
2. Analysis of the assigned national livestock industry, with particular attention to biosecurity market access.
3. All other presentation content as outlined in the format.
4. Clear and professional communication.
5. Adherence to the time limit.
6. The use of references to support your claims.
For Part B you will be marked based on your:
1. Ability to outline the scientific and economic aspects of the presentation
2. Ability to adhere to the format provided.
3. Clear and professional communication.
4. Adherence to the time limit.
5. The use of references to support your claims.
- Discuss the link between animal health and livestock production economics.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical and Written Assessment
Assessment 2 is comprised of two parts.
PART A Practical assessment (10%):
You must successfully complete the animal health and welfare practical tasks assigned during the AGRI12001 Residential School in week 9. Examples of these tasks include: Dissection and sample collection of organs, ectoparasite identification, completing a blood-smear, wound treatment and toxic weed identification.
PART B Written report (40%):
Based on the skills learnt during PART A Practical assessment and the results generated during the AGRI12001 Residential School, you will be required to develop a range of strategies related to the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a range of animal health and welfare issues in the form of a written report. A template will be provided to you for completing this assessment. The health and welfare strategies you develop in response to this assessment must be based on evidence gathered from reputable sources including peer-reviewed journal articles, industry reports and government documents. The total word count for this assessment is 2500 words, not including headings, figure legends, tables and references.
Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Part 1 is to be completed during the residential school. Part 2 is due on Friday 03/06/2021 at 11:45PM
Exam Week Friday (17 June 2022)
You will be assessed on:
- Your attendance at the residential school
- Your successful completion of all practical tasks associated with the residential school
- 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 peer-reviewed academic journal articles, government documents and industry publications to support your claims
- Evaluate the health and welfare of animals
- Develop and implement animal health and welfare strategies
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Assessment 3 (worth 30%) is a written assessment that requires you to critique animal welfare codes of practice and legislation. You will critique five statements based on animal welfare codes of practice and legislation in Australia and internationally that were covered in the learning material for weeks four to eight. In forming your critique, you should draw on peer-reviewed journal articles, government documents, industry reports and news media from reputable sources. Each statement has a maximum word count of 400 words (2,000 words in total for the five statements).
Week 10 Wednesday (18 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Wednesday (1 June 2022)
You will be assessed on:
- Your understanding and analysis of animal welfare codes of practice and legislation
- Your use of scientific, sociological, economic, political and other evidence to support your position
- 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 peer-reviewed academic journal articles, government documents and industry publications to support your claims
- Critique animal welfare codes of practice and legislation
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
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?
