Animal Health, Management & Welfare 3

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Prospective students are advised to familiarise themselves with the Faculty's Academic Requirements Statement

http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/AcademicRequirements.pdf

and information about Students Experiencing Disability

http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/Disability.pdf

Topics include epidemiology, economics, genetics, pasture management and fish farming. Epidemiology includes factors that influence patterns of disease; techniques of data acquisition and analysis, and the uses and limitations of statistical information; and epidemiological investigations of animal disease outbreaks. Economics includes economic reasoning in decision-making with animal production systems; preparing a farm budget, financial analytical methods that aid business financial decision-making including gross margins, enterprise analysis, cash flow budgets, partial budgets and comparative analysis (benchmarking). Genetics includes understanding the principles of selection for genetic improvement in various animal productions systems; and the use of reproductive technologies to improve the rate of genetic gain. Pasture management includes understanding the importance of pastures in profitable grazing systems; strategies to upgrade pasture production and pasture quality; and planning and implementing grazing management strategies. Fish farming includes the basics of intensive fish farming.

Students completing this subject should:

• understand the concepts of epidemiology;
• be aware of factors which influence patterns of disease;
• be familiar with the techniques of data acquisition and analysis and the uses and limitations of statistical information;
• be able to undertake epidemiological investigations of animal disease outbreaks; be able to provide economic reasoning in decision making when dealing with animal production systems;
• be able to prepare a budget, for a proposed change to a business;
• understand various financial analytical methods that aid business financial decision-making including gross margins, cash flow budgets, partial budgets and comparative analysis (bench-marking);
• be able to design a simple breeding program for animals;
• understand the principles of selection for genetic improvement in various animal production systems;
• be able to advise on the use of reproductive technologies to improve the rate of genetic gain;
• understand the importance of pastures in profitable grazing systems;
• be aware of strategies to upgrade pasture production and pasture quality;
• be competent at planning and implementing grazing management strategies;
• understand the basics of intensive fish farming;
• further develop computer skills and skills in integrating material from previous subjects.

A 2-hour written examination at the end of semester (90%) and assessment of practical exercises (10%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students completing this subject should:

• be familiar with the techniques of data acquisition and analysis and the uses and limitations of statistical information;

• be able to critically analyse scientific papers and reports;

• have skills in writing a scientific paper or report;

• be competent in objective and systematic approaches to decision making; and

• have increased ability to integrate and apply knowledge from a wide range of disciplines.