CQUniversity Unit Profile

AGRI13014 - Animal Nutrition

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All details in this unit profile for AGRI13014 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.

General Information

Overview

Nutrition is vital for the care and husbandry of animals. With livestock, it is important to know how to feed animals adequately so that they grow and reproduce at rates which are economically sound so that an enterprise functions in a sustainable manner. This unit is designed to equip you with the practical application of nutritional principles in ruminant and monogastric production systems. Animal nutrition focuses on digestion, absorption, and metabolism of feed and how the different dietary nutrients are used to maintain life or assimilated into products. In order for a feed to be consumed and utilised by an animal, it has to be palatable, digestible, absorbable and metabolisable to be utilised into energy and structural components. You will develop an understanding of this series of events while covering a range of animals (ruminants and simple-stomached). This unit also covers the constituents of feed and the capacity of the different classes of feeds to supply the animal with nutrients to meet its requirements for maintenance, growth, and production, as well as various processing of feed so that it is safer, more palatable and more nutritious.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate

Unit Level: Level 3

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 7

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Completion of 48 credit points.

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 - 2026

Bundaberg

Emerald

Mixed Mode

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

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

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)

Weighting: 40%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

3. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

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.

CQUniversity Policies

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.

Previous Student Feedback

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Define the form and function of anatomical features of the digestive systems of different species of domestic animals
Identify the general features of the different classes of feeds and the constituents of feeds
Design, formulate and analyse diets from first principal using feed and animal requirement tables
Communicate nutritional principles in the feeding of various animal species and articulate potential solutions to common nutritional problems.

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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
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 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

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)

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

Karen Harper Unit Coordinator
k.harper@cqu.edu.au

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment1 Quiz A (20%) Due date: Quiz closes Week 6 Friday 21 August, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026

Module/Topic

Module/Topic

Applied nutrition - dairy

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11

Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026

Module/Topic

Applied nutrition - feedlots

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment1 Quiz B (20%) Due date: Week 11 Friday 2 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title

Assessment 1 Online quizzes

Task Description

There are two (2) quizzes:

QUIZ A (20%) Assessment of content delivered during lectures and tutorials from Week 1 through to and including Week 5. Due date: Quiz closes Week 6, Friday 21 August, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

QUIZ B (20%) Assessment of content delivered during lectures and tutorials up to and including Week 11. Quiz closes Week 11, Friday 2 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Quizzes will be undertaken on Moodle, consists of multiple choice, true/false, match type questions and will open on Monday of the corresponding week at 7 am. You will have 1 hour to complete each quiz once started. Only one attempt is allowed.

Level of GenAI use allowed.

Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.

Number of Quizzes

-2

Frequency of Quizzes

Other

Assessment Due Date

QUIZ A (20%) Due date: Quiz closes Week 6 Friday 21 August, 2026 5.00 pm AEST. QUIZ B (20%) Due date: Week 11 Friday 2 October, 2026 5.00 pm AEST.

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.

Weighting

40%

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be awarded based on correct responses to quiz questions.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

All parts of this assessment are due on Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Define the form and function of anatomical features of the digestive systems of different species of domestic animals
Identify the general features of the different classes of feeds and the constituents of feeds

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assessment 2 Development of a supplement strategy.

Task Description

This assessment comprises of two (2) parts and accounts for 30% of your final mark.

PART A Report (20%)

Choose one (1) of the four (4) case studies provided. Develop a supplementation strategy based on sound scientific background and economic returns in the form of a written report. In this report include:

Introduction - Outline the scenario and the production objectives in the chosen case study.

Evaluation of deficiency - Describe and discuss the assessment of the nutrient deficiency

Supplementation strategy - Describe and discuss the supplementation strategy to be implemented.

Evaluation of strategy - outline how you will monitor and evaluate the success of the supplementation strategy in relation to the production system and economic returns.

This assessment will be in the format of an essay (1500 words) and must include the above focus headings, conclusion and references. References are not included in the word limit. Figures are encouraged.

PART B - Presentation (10%)

You are required to pre-record a 10 minute presentation to describe supplementation delivery methods of the deficient nutrient within your case study. For the presentation you should include the following aspects:

Introduce the nutrient and the symptoms of a deficiency

Outline the different delivery methods and benefit and any potential issues of each delivery method.

Outline any issues with over supplementation.

The marking rubrics will be available on Moodle

Assessment Due Date

PART A due Week 12 Tuesday 6 October 2026 by 5 pm AEST; PART B due Week 12 Friday 9 October 2026 by 5 pm AEST.

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 14 working days of submission.

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

50%

Assessment Criteria

Marks are awarded for:

Communication and presentation skills

introduction and addressing the topic

Knowledge, content and structure

Analysis of information

Discussion of how the supplementation strategy will be implemented

Evaluation of the sucess of the supplementation strategy

Clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar

Use of references and accuracy of referencing

Appropriate length (Part A) and timeframe (Part B).

Detailed marking rubrics will be available on Moodle.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Define the form and function of anatomical features of the digestive systems of different species of domestic animals
Identify the general features of the different classes of feeds and the constituents of feeds
Design, formulate and analyse diets from first principal using feed and animal requirement tables
Communicate nutritional principles in the feeding of various animal species and articulate potential solutions to common nutritional problems.

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assessment 3 Practical Portfolio

Task Description

The practical portfolio relates to the residential school, where you will be required to complete a series of activities and short response questions. A copy of the practical portfolio will be available on Moodle including specific details for each activity.

Level of Gen AI use allowed.

Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (18 Sept 2026) 5:00 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Grades will be returned within 14 days of submission.

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

50%

Assessment Criteria

Marking are awarded for attendance, participation, completion, correct responses to questions and submission of required practical activities at the residential school.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Offline

Submission Instructions

All parts of this assessment are due on Moodle or a hard copy can be handed in at the conclusion of the residential school.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Design, formulate and analyse diets from first principal using feed and animal requirement tables
Communicate nutritional principles in the feeding of various animal species and articulate potential solutions to common nutritional problems.

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.