Course overview
The course will provide students with a basic understanding of production animals, horses, companion, wildlife and laboratory animals and their respective industries in Australia and overseas. A general overview of agricultural production will also be covered. Themes to be studied include: livestock agricultural systems; the equine industry; biology and husbandry of companion animals, wildlife and lab animals; agricultural economics intensive animal production systems, and the effects of animal husbandry on welfare. There will be tutorials covering library and computer based information retrieval skills and specific animal husbandry topics. Practical exercises will include instruction on the handling of sheep, cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, alpacas, dogs and small animals.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe the roles of animals in society
- Describe the biology of commonly domesticated animals
- Demonstrate knowledge of common husbandry systems, including the economic drivers, as well as the role of veterinary, animal and behaviour scientists and veterinary technologists
- Demonstrate animal handling skills in a variety of domestic and non-domestic species
- Demonstrate skills in written and oral communication, information retrieval and the critical evaluation of information