The Open School of Neo-tropical Animal Science and Production

VETM 1005 - Animal Production III: Ruminant Production, Neo-tropical Wildlife and Equines
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Topics Covered in this Section

 

1. Purpose of this Course

 

2. Course Concepts

 

3. Learning Outcomes

 

4. Course Organisation

 

5. How to study for this course

 

6. List of topics

 

7. Teaching Strategies

 

8. Assessment

 

9. Attendances/Absences

 

10. Communication

 

11. Course Schedule

 

12. Course Calendar

 

13. PBL Schedule

 

14. Required Readings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VETM 1005 Outline

 

1. Purpose of the Course
This course is to introduce the student of Veterinary Medicine to the World of Animals from the standpoint of production, growth, economics and farm management. It is the one of three courses in which the student will be exposed to domestic and non-domestic animal species. It was designed specifically for the students in the five (5) year degree programme in Veterinary Medicine.

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2. Course Concepts
This course contains an introduction to the concepts involved in designing an Intensive Animal Production System, an introduction to Ruminant Production [Sheep, Goats, Dairy, Beef Cattle and Buffaloes], Equine Production and the Production of Non-domestic Neo-tropical animal species.

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3. Learning Outcomes

i. To be able to list and describe the essential components and management practices involved in the production systems of the following animals: Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goats, Aquatic species and some selected Neo-tropical Animals.
ii. To have an appreciation of the importance of the Neo-tropics with respect to the availability and production of Non-domestic animals.

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4. Course Organization
This course is organized into five (5) parts that would be taught by Professor Gary Wayne Garcia as follows:

  • Part 1: Anatomy and Physiology of Animals - You would not be examined on this section but the information will be given to you for you to get a better understanding of Animal Production.
  • Part 2: Concepts for Designing Intensive Animal Production Systems – Prof. Gary Wayne Garcia (10 % of this course)
  • Part 3: Ruminants – Prof. Gary Wayne Garcia (65 % of this course)
  • Part 4: Equine Management – Prof. Gary Wayne Garcia (10 % of this course)
  • Part 5: Non-domestic Neo-tropical Animals [Neo-tropical Animal Wildlife] – Prof. Gary Wayne Garcia (15 % of this course)

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5. How to study for this Course
This course has been laid out for you in a very fluid manner. One week’s information flows into the other. In addition the PBL Cases for the respective subject will be presented to you the same week or the week following the week that the material was introduced to you. It is important therefore that you treat the PBL session with reverence and do not waste the time allocated to the PBL Sessions.

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6. List of Topics

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    1. 1.1 Introduction
    1. 2.1 Factors Affecting Production
    2. 2.2 Physiological States
    3. 2.3 Housing and Equipment
    4. 2.4 Designing Animal Production Systems
    5. 2.5 Types of Production Systems
      1. 3.1.1 Uniqueness and Importance to Man
      2. 3.1.2 Products
      3. 3.1.3 Types of Production Systems
      4. 3.1.4 What is a Breed?
      5. 3.1.5 Breed versus Type
      6. 3.1.6 Fundamentals of Production
      7. 3.1.7 Role and function of Colostrum
      1. 3.2.1 Products from Sheep
      2. 3.2.2 Physiological States
      3. 3.2.3 Production Units Process Flow
      4. 3.2.4 Production Systems
      5. 3.2.5 Breeds of Tropical Hair Sheep
      6. 3.2.6 Breeding Systems
      7. 3.2.7 Performance Coefficients
        1. 3.2.8.1 Housing
        2. 3.2.8.2 Care at Lambing
        3. 3.2.8.3 Hoof Care
        4. 3.2.8.4 Grazing
      1. 3.3.1 Products from Goats
      2. 3.3.2 Physiological States
      3. 3.3.3 Production Units Process Flow
      4. 3.3.4 Production Systems
      5. 3.3.5 Breeding Systems
      6. 3.3.6 Tropical Breeds and Types
      7. 3.3.7 French Dairy Goat Production
      8. 3.3.8 Performance Coefficients
        1. 3.3.8.1 Housing
        2. 3.3.8.2 Care at Kidding
        3. 3.3.8.3 Hoof Care
        4. 3.3.8.4 Grazing
      1. 3.4.1 Products from Dairy Cattle
      2. 3.4.2 Physiological States
      3. 3.4.3 Production Units Process Flow
      4. 3.4.4 Production Systems
      5. 3.4.5 Breeding Systems
      6. 3.4.6 Tropical Breeds and Types
      7. 3.4.7 Lactation Curve
      8. 3.4.8 Body Condition Scoring
      9. 3.4.9 Performance Coefficients
        1. 3.4.10.1 Housing
        2. 3.4.10.2 Care at Calving
        3. 3.4.10.3 Estrus
        4. 3.4.10.4 Grazing
      1. 3.5.1 Products from Beef Cattle
      2. 3.5.2 Physiological States
      3. 3.5.3 Production Units Process Flow
      4. 3.5.4 Production Systems
      5. 3.5.5 Breeding Systems
      6. 3.5.6 Breeds of Beef Cattle
      7. 3.5.7 Performance Coefficients
        1. 3.5.8.1 Housing and Feedlot
        2. 3.5.8.2 Care at Calving
        3. 3.5.8.3 Grazing
      1. 3.6.1 Products from Water Buffalo
      2. 3.6.2 Physiological States
      3. 3.6.3 Production Units Process Flow
      4. 3.6.4 Production Systems
      5. 3.6.5 Breeding Systems
      6. 3.6.6 Breeds – Water Buffalo and Buffalypso
      7. 3.6.7 Performance Coefficients
        1. 3.6.8.1 Housing
        2. 3.6.8.2 Estrus
        3. 3.6.8.3 Feeding
      1. 4.1.1. Overview of the Industry
      2. 4.1.2. Types and Breeds
      3. 4.1.3. Equestrian Activities
      4. 4.1.4. Economic Value
      5. 4.1.5. Careers
      1. 4.2.1. Types of Housing
      2. 4.2.2. Pasture management
      3. 4.2.3. Waste management
      4. 4.2.4. Biosecurity
      5. 4.2.5. Costs of Maintenance
      1. 4.3.1. Body condition score
      2. 4.3.2. Energy requirements
      3. 4.3.3. Dietary requirements
      4. 4.3.4. Feeding guidelines
      5. 4.3.5. Horses at performance/work
      1. 4.4.1. Pregnant mare
      2. 4.4.2. Nursing mare
      3. 4.4.3. Colic horse
      4. 4.4.4. Geriatric horse
    1. 5.1 The Neo-tropics and its uniqueness
    2. 5.2 Animals, Wildlife and Mini-livestock
    3. 5.3 Considerations for Production
      1. 5.4.1.1. Ibises
      2. 5.4.1.2. Guans
      3. 5.4.1.3. Chachalacas
      4. 5.4.1.4. Hummingbirds
      5. 5.4.1.5. Ducks and Geese
      1. 5.4.2.1. Guinea Pigs [Cavia porcellus]
      2. 5.4.2.2. Agouti [Dasyprocta leporina]
      3. 5.4.2.3. Lappe/Paca [Agouti paca]
      4. 5.4.2.4. Capybara [Hydrochoeris hydrochcherus]
      1. 5.4.3.1 Red Brocket Deer [Mazama americana]
      1. 5.4.4.1 Llamas, Alpacas and Vacunas
      2. 5.4.4.2 The Collared Peccary [Tayassu tajacu/ Pecari tajacu]
      1. 5.4.5.1. Snakes
      2. 5.4.5.2. Lizards
        1. 5.4.5.3.1. Spectacled Caiman [Caiman sclerops]
        2. 5.4.5.3.2. Black Caiman/Caiman Noir

 

 

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7. Teaching Strategies
This is a blended course that would be presented to you in the face to face mode within the classroom, with Field Trips and with the use of the PBL (Problem Based Learning) methodology.

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8.0 Assessment
Coursework will be worth a total of 40%, whereas final examinations would be 60%. The coursework breakdown is shown in the table below.

 

Assessment Weight
Mid Semester Quiz #1 20%
End of Semester Quiz #2 10%
Computer Course Information Usability Testing 5%
Field Trip Attendance (2%) & Field Trip Report (2%) 4%
Slide Show Report 1%
Final Exam 60%
Total 100%

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9. Attendances/Absences
Students are expected to attend most (75%), if not all, classes. Students absent during an exam or when an assignment is due must have an excused absence (requested in writing) to avoid being awarded a zero mark. Discuss any planned absences with the lecturer prior to the absence. Emergency absences should be discussed immediately after return to class. Medical excuses must be signed by a physician.

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10. Communication
Office hours: All students can communicate on line with the Course Coordinator and Course Lecturers on Line through the Google Group e-Mail account. I would like to advise ALL students that they also get a GMail e-mail address. It has very useful electronic information storage and Transfer Features.
In so doing, all students in the class would belong to a Google Group email account and website. This would afford us to have an “Open Classroom” in which learning and communication can take place 24 hours a day.

Communication policy: Use the course group email account. In this manner we could all communicate with each other 24 hours a day. All discussions must be polite.

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11. Course Schedule
Lectures:

  • Thursdays 10:00am-11:00am (SBB 001)
  • Fridays 9:00am-11:00 (SVM Amphi)

12. Course Calendar

 

Date  Time & Place Topic Name 
Week 1  Thursday 22nd  January   10am-11am Steve Bennett  Course Introduction   Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 23rd  January   9am-11am Steve Bennett   Anatomy and Physiology of Animals [Brief Review]  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 2 Wednesday 28th  January  7- 10 pm Faculty of Agriculture, Main Campus  Slide Show  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Thursday 29th January    10am-11am SVM Amphi.    Anatomy and Physiology of Animals [Brief Review]    Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 30th January   9am-11am Steve Bennett   Concepts for Designing Intensive Animal Production Systems   Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 3 Thursday 07th February    10am-11am Steve Bennett   Concepts for Designing Intensive Animal Production Systems  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 8th February   10am-12am Steve Bennett   Introduction to Ruminant Production Systems   Prof. G.W. Garcia
Saturday 2nd   Sunday 3rd   Weekend Field Trip Meet at 5:30 am  6:00 am to 9:00 am University Field Station  Milking and Milking Management of Dairy Cattle Animal Housing Forages 10:00 am to 2pm Sugarcane Feeds Centre Animal Housing Bio-gas digestors Animal Abattoirs Aquaculture Meet Sunday 8:00 am  9:00 am to 1 pm Emperor Valley Zoo  
Week 4 Thursday 12th February    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Tropical Hair Sheep Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 13th February   9am-11am SVM Amphi  Tropical Hair Sheep Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 5 Thursday 19th February    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Goat Production in the Tropics Directed Readings Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Friday 20th   February    9am-11am SVM Amphi  Goat Production in the Tropics Directed Readings Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Week 6  Thursday 26th February   10am-11am Steve Bennett  Dairy Cattle Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 27th February  9am-11am SVM Amphi  Dairy Cattle Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 7 Thursday 05th March    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Beef Cattle & Water Buffalo Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 06th March   9am-11am SVM Amphi  Free for Studying  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 8 Thursday 12th March    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Beef Cattle & Water Buffalo Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 13th March   9am-11am SVM Amphi  Quiz #1   Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 9 Thursday 19th   March    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Neo-tropical Animals Prof. G.W. Garcia
 Friday 20th  March     9am-11am SVM Amphi  Neo-tropical Animals Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Week 10 Thursday 26th March    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Neo-tropical Animals  Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Friday 27th March  9am-11am SVM Amphi     
Week 11  Thursday 2nd  April    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Neo-tropical Animals  Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Friday 3rd  April   NO CLASS  GOOD FRIDAY  
Week 12 Thursday 9th April    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Equine Production  Prof. G.W. Garcia
Friday 10th  April   9am-11am SVM Amphi  Quiz #2 [2 hours]   Prof. G.W. Garcia
Week 13 Thursday 16th April    10am-11am Steve Bennett  Review  Prof. G.W. Garcia 
Friday 17th  April   9am-11am SVM Amphi  Review  Prof. G.W. Garcia 

 

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13. PBL Schedule

 

Week of Semester [Dates] PBL Topic
1] 19/1 to 23/1  
2] 26/2 to 30/1   
Wednesday 28th  January Special Slide Session 7- 10 PM Lecture Room B, Sir Frank Stockdale Building Faculty of Science and Agriculture St Augustine Campus (1%)
3] 2/2 to 6/2 PBL#1: Sudden Death in Calves
SATURDAY 7th  February Field Trip  5:30 am  - UFS Dairy - Sugarcane Feeds Centre (2%)
SUNDAY 8th  February 9:00 AM - Emperor Valley Zoo (2%)
4] 9/2 to 13/2 PBL#2: No Kidding 
5] 16/2 to 20/2 Carnival Monday and Tuesday  NO PBL 
6] 23/2  to 27/2 PBL #3: A Fat Duck 
7] 2/3 to 6/3 PBL#4: Persistent Mastitis 
8] 9/3 to 13/3 PBL#5: 3 Chickens for $30 
9] 16/3 to 20/3 PBL#6: Chicken Farm Dilemma
10] 23/3 to 27/4 PBL#7: Floating Tilapia and Cascadura  
11] 30/3 to 3/4  
12] 6/4 to 10/4  
13] 13/4 to 17/4  

 

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14. Required Reading
All required reading will be available from the website of The Open School of Tropical Animal Science and Production. Website: www12.brinkster.com/ostasp/index.aspx

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Prof. Gary W. Garcia, Department of Food Production, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Updated: 18-Jan-2015