Overview
In this unit you will be introduced to the vast number of industries that support food production in Australia including livestock, cropping and horticulture. You will learn about the principles and practices of crop production as well as animal genetics, nutrition and reproduction. You will explore synergies between these industries and how technology can be used to improve production whilst improving profitability and environmental sustainability. Further, current and global trends will be investigated, in conjunction with new and emerging industries and issues affecting industry development.
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 - 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 Student Unit Evaluation
The residential school was a highlight of the unit and one of students most memorable experiences
Continue to ensure that the residential school provides new and unique opportunities to students across a number of industries
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluation
More real-world problems in assignments and theory content would be well-received
Maintain the incorporation of real-world problems faced in agriculture, and use guest lecturers and appropriate case studies to deliver content where possible
- Critically evaluate global emerging trends in food production
- Develop and evaluate an implementation strategy for innovations in food production utilising technology, data collection and analysis
- Analyse food production systems and identify strategies for improvement.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 20% | |||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 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 - Portfolio - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Beef Agskills
Edition: Catalogue number: B105 (2005)
Authors: NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780731305872
Binding: Paperback
Beef Cattle Production and Trade
(2014)
Authors: David Cottle, Lewis Kahn
CSIRO Publishing
Collingwood Collingwood , VIC , Australia
ISBN: 9780643109889
Binding: Hardcover
Dairy Agskills
Edition: Catalogue number: B106 (2008)
Authors: NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780731306091
Binding: Paperback
Pig Agskills
Edition: Catalogue number: B737 (2010)
Authors: NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780731306312
Binding: Paperback
Poultry Agskills
Edition: Catalogue number: B704 (2008)
Authors: NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780731306069
Binding: Paperback
Sheep Agskills
Edition: Catalogue number: B111 (2016)
Authors: NSW Department of Primary Industries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills Online: https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/publications/agskills , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781742568836
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
All of the supplementary textbooks are optional resources that you may find useful when learning about livestock production. The information in these supplementary textbooks will be covered in lectures, with additional resources and suggested readings available on Moodle.
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 overview, assessment requirements and global food production overview
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Extensive livestock production: beef cattle production
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Extensive livestock production: sheep production (wool and meat)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pulses and spices
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Grain crops and grazing stubbles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Global trends in food production presentation Due: Week 5 Friday (11 Aug 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Aquatic plants to aquaculture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Intensive livestock production: poultry (broiler and layer) and pig production
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Residential school
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The residential school will be held on 04/09/2023 to 06/09/2023
Practical portfolio Part A - Data collection and analysis Due: Week 8 Wednesday (6 Sept 2023) at the conclusion of the residential school
Module/Topic
Horticulture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Dairy production
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practical portfolio Part B - Annotated bibliography Due: Week 10 Friday (22 Sept. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST
Module/Topic
Rangeland goat production
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Specialised food industries summary and in-class test
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
In-class test Due: Week 12 Thursday (5 Oct. 2023) during the tutorial session
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Portfolio
This assessment has two parts:
Part A – Group recorded presentation (15%)
Discuss global trends in a chosen food production system to address growing concerns of their future viability. You will be assigned a partner/s and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation will need to select one of the following topics and the associated concern:
- Livestock – Cows are no longer needed as meat grown in labs hits the shelves
- Aquaculture – An increase in seafood allergies has led to a record low of salmonids
- Cropping – Demand for wheat reducing as everyone goes gluten free
- Horticulture – Rising ketone dieting has limited the need for fruits and vegetables
Prepare and record a 10 minute presentation and present it in the following format:
- Selection of a specific commodity in your chosen food production system (e.g., beef in livestock)
-
Introduction to your chosen commodity and food production system
- A review of what is happening globally (past and present) for your chosen food production system
- Future directions - what is predicted globally for your chosen food production system in the future?
- Creation of a campaign, slogan or innovative idea to address growing concerns of the future viability of your chosen food production system
Part B – Peer evaluation (5%)
After Part A - Group presentation, you will evaluate your assigned partner/s 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.
Marking rubrics will be available on Moodle.
Both Part A and Part B are DUE Week 5 Friday (11 Aug. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST
Grades will be returned within 14 working days of submission.
Part A - Group presentation will be assessed on:
- Clear introduction
- The use of statistical and other information relevant to Australian and Global food production
- Discussion of the information in the context of a chosen commodity and food production system
- Discussion of the growing concerns of the future viability of your chosen food production system
- Adherence to the time frame
- Overall presentation and use of slides
- Presence of all team members in the recording
- References
Part B - 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
Further details and marking rubrics will be available on the Moodle page.
- Critically evaluate global emerging trends in food production
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Ethical practice
2 Portfolio
This assessment has two parts:
PART A – Data collection and analysis (20%)
Part A relates to the residential school, where you will be required to collect and analyse data and complete a series of activities. A copy of the residential school practical portfolio will be available on Moodle.
PART B – Annotated Bibliography (30%)
You will be exposed to innovations during the residential school (Part A) and must select an innovation for a food production system of your choice and find six (6) relevant, recent and peer reviewed journal papers. Your annotated bibliography should be structured as follows:
- Reference using Harvard (author-date)
- A 500-700 word paragraph for your reference, including a summary, key findings and evaluation of the innovation at either the producer or enterprise level, or how it monitors an important aspect of the animal/crop.
This structure should be repeated for all six (6) peer reviewed journal papers.
The marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
Part A DUE Week 8 Wednesday (6 Sept 2023) at the conclusion of the residential school; Part B DUE Week 10 Friday (22 Sept. 2023) 5:00 PM AEST
Grades will be returned within 14 working days of submission.
PART A - Data collection and analysis will be marked according to the following:
- Attendance, participation and completion of the residential school
- Correct responses to questions and submission of the residential school practical portfolio
PART B - Annotated Bibliography will be marked according to the following:
- Relevance of papers
- Correct number of papers included
- Summary provided
- Summary includes key findings and relevance to topic
- Develop and evaluate an implementation strategy for innovations in food production utilising technology, data collection and analysis
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Ethical practice
3 In-class Test(s)
The in-class test will consist of multiple choice, short response and case study questions related to content delivered during all lectures and tutorials throughout the term. It will be conducted during the tutorial session of Week 12, online through Moodle. Once the online test has commenced, it must be submitted within 3 hours.
The in-class test will be conducted during the tutorial session of Week 12 Thursday (5 Oct. 2023), online through Moodle
Grades will be returned within 14 working days of submission.
Marks are based on correct responses to questions.
- Critically evaluate global emerging trends in food production
- Analyse food production systems and identify strategies for improvement.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- 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?
