AP1A24-Introduction to Livestock Production

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Sokratis Stergiadis
Email: s.stergiadis@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

You’ll be introduced to the key biological principles in livestock science and an international perspective on livestock production, including the contribution livestock production makes to human health and livelihoods, and the major principles and problems associated with intensive and extensive production. You’ll learn through lectures/screencasts, interactive seminars and project work.

Aims:
This module aims to provide an introduction to key biological principles in livestock science along with an international perspective on livestock production including the contribution livestock production makes to human health and livelihoods, and the major principles and problems associated with intensive and extensive production. Together, this provides a foundation of knowledge that will support further livestock modules taught later in the Agriculture, Agricultural Business Management and Animal Science degree programmes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Describe and discuss the contribution made by livestock and livestock products to human livelihoods


• Describe and discuss a range of biological and environmentalÌýfactors which affect animal performance


• Describe and discuss the relative merits and demerits of extensive and intensive livestock production systems.

Additional outcomes:

As a result of the seminars and team work component, students will:

• Develop academic writing skills, using Word processing software

• Search for, find and critically analyse information using electronic search and other methods

• Work as a team to prepare a presentation on a specified subject

• Present information verbally using supporting presentation software slides

Other transferable and employability skills that will be developed throughout the module are time management and independence, IT skills (use of MS Word and PowerPoint), creativity, research and enquiry skills and global/multicultural awareness around livestock production.

Outline content:

The module provides a wide-ranging background in domestic livestock science, for example the lactation, growth and development of animals and their responses to the environment, alongside an overview of some key livestock production systems and their products. Due consideration is given to both the benefits of livestock production as well as its debits related to environmental footprint and animal welfare. The content will be of interest to students of Agriculture, Agricultural Business Manag ement, Animal Science and other biological or land based disciplines.



The Lecture Contents cover:

• Origins, domestication and classification of livestock species


• The contribution of livestock to human livelihoods


• Genetic diversity in livestock species and its importance


• Animal products


• Introduction to lactation and milk production


• Introduction to growth and dev elopment of farm animals


• Animal bioenergetics


• Introduction to animal feeds and nutrition


• Effects of the environment on animal performance


• Efficiency in livestock production


• Grazing, vegetation and landscape


• Intensive production systems; drivers, characteristics, benefits and challenges


• Extensive production systems; drivers, characteristics, benefits and challenges


• The f uture of livestock production: global and local perspectives

The Seminar Sessions cover:

• Introduction to essay planning and writing


• Introduction to presentation preparation and delivery


• Facilitation of project work, in small student teams, gathering information (from library and internet sources) on set topics related t