Livestock and Equine Production Science
Course content
The students must learn to view animal production from a
production unit systems perspective. The core of the course is
project work consisting of analysis and evaluation of all
significant production, performance and health related aspects of a
professional livestock herd. In addition to production animals
(defined as pigs, cattle and poultry), also equine herds (stud
farms, riding schools etc.) may be analyzed. It is a precondition
for working with other animal species than pigs and dairy cows that
at least 4 students choose to work with the species in question.
Students are required to inform the overall course responsible
before the 15th of December which of the permitted animal species
they wish to work with in the course.
The analysis must systematically address all basic production
factors and for each factor (animals, feed, farm buildings and
equipment, labor and management, veterinary services) the following
problems are addressed:
- What is the current allocation of the factor in the herd
(amounts, composition, quality)?
- What are the effects of the current factor allocation on
production results (including performance and health)?
- What are the effects of the current factor allocation on the
attributes of the farmer's utility? The following attributes
must be considered: Monetary income, animal welfare, work load,
working environment, environmental impact and product quality.
- What are the short term and long term constraints imposed on the
allocation of the factor? Constraints resulting from interactions
with other factors and from long term decisions must be
included.
- What are the opportunities for adjusting the allocation of the
factor in order to better meet the objectives of the farmer as
expressed by the attributes of his utility?
In relation to the project work, independent statistical analyses
of production, performance or health data can be included. The
course will, to a great extent, make use of contacts with
researchers and experts from University of Aarhus and the relevant
industries and farmer advisory services.
In addition to the project work, classes on safe intercation with farm animals are included in the course.
MSc Programme in Animal Science - compulsory
The objective of the course is to become able to independently
perform a scientifically sound and holistic analysis and evaluation
of all major production and health related aspects of an animal
production unit.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Show an overview of theories, principles and methods for
concurrent combination and regulation of the production factors in
such a way that a given (multi-attribute) objective is satisfied
optimally within the constraints imposed on the production.
- Describe the relationships between factor allocation, production
constraints and objectives in animal production.
Skills:
- Apply holistic methods for analysis and evaluation of all
production and health related aspects of a given animal production
unit.
- Interact with farm animals.
Competencies:
- Discuss production systems and production plans in relation to
animal welfare as well as the environmental and other societal
concerns.
The course is based on project work in groups of 4-6 students.
Initially, there will be lectures and discussions across groups and
animal species. The agenda for the analysis of each factor within
the chosen herd will be, approximately, as follows:
1) Definition of the factor and identification of the decisions
addressing the use of the factor.
2) Identification, quantification and evaluation of all aspects of
the factor in relation to the herd. Concurrent lectures and
exercises supporting the analysis may be given.
3) Presentation of the analysis of the factor in a seminar.
Student initiated seminars originating from the project work can be
included in the course. The course involves several visits to a
herd and to some extent cooperation with researchers from
University of Aarhus. It is strongly recommended that the students
collaborate with the usual consultant and/or veterinarian visiting
the herd. Even though the course language is English, students must
understand that Danish farm owners are not necessarily competent in
English. Most of the written material available about the farm will
be in Danish.
Evaluation model: Survey-based model
Academic literature identification, interpretation and evaluation is a core element due to the project nature of the course.
Students are required to inform the overall course responsible before the 15th of December which of the permitted animal species they wishes to work with in the course.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students:
Credit transfer student at SUND – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Other external students:
https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/student-mobility/guest-students/
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignmentOral examination, 35 minutes
- Type of assessment details
- A project report must be submitted. Oral presentation and
defence of project report.
Weight: Oral examination 75 %; Project report 25 % .
A project report must be submitted.
Students in the same group cannot participate in their fellow student’s individual oral exam unless they have already had their own individual oral exam. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:
Knowledge:
At the oral exam:
- Show an overview of theories, principles and methods for
concurrent combination and regulation of the production factors in
such a way that a given (multi-attribute) objective is satisfied
optimally within the constraints imposed on the production.
- Describe the relationships between factor allocation, production
constraints and objectives in animal production.
Skills:
In the project report:
- Apply holistic methods for analysis and evaluation of all
production and health related aspects of a given animal production
unit.
Compencies:
At the oral exam:
- Discuss production systems and production plans in relation to
animal welfare as well as the environmental and other societal
concerns.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 25
- Class Instruction
- 25
- Preparation
- 47
- Practical exercises
- 10
- Excursions
- 30
- Project work
- 250
- Guidance
- 15
- Exam
- 10
- English
- 412
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SASK16002U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
There is no teaching in Block week 8 of the course - Placement
- Block 3
- Schedulegroup
-
B And C
- Capacity
- 60 students.
- Studyboard
- The Study Board for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Anni Øyan Pedersen
(10-6471716c3172687c64714376787167316e7831676e)
Pig track - Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira
(12-6f786c7d31736875686c75644376787167316e7831676e)
Cattle track - Leonardo Victor de Knegt
(4-6f79676e4376787167316e7831676e)
Overall course responsibility
Teacher
Bjarne Schmidt Bjerg
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