Program Overview

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Advanced Livestock and Equine Production Science

Course Description

The course is a continuation of Course SASK16002 Livestock and Equine Production Science. Production animals (defined as pigs, cattle, and poultry), also equine herds (stud farms, riding schools, etc.) may be analyzed.

Course Content

The students will in this course work in the same group and with the same herd as in Livestock and Equine Production Science. A thorough analysis of the options identified during the preceding course must be carried out, with a careful prioritization that is in agreement with the farmer's preferences. Attributes of the farmer's preferences must be identified and weighted. These must be used as the basis for scientifically founded operational, tactical, and strategic plans that maximize the farmer's utility within the constraints imposed on the production. The product of this work will be a report that includes these plans.

Learning Outcomes

This course aims to enable the student to devise scientifically well-founded operational, tactical, and strategic plans that maximize the farmer's utility within the constraints imposed on the production. The plans must, furthermore, be communicated to the farmer.

Knowledge

• Describe potentials and limitations of theories from ethology, physiology, nutrition, animal breeding, herd management, production economics, climate control, and epidemiology in relation to a concrete animal production context.

Skills

• Apply principles from utility theory for identification of farmer preferences (objectives) described by a list of attributes and their mutual weighting.
• Apply the relationships between factor allocation, constraints, and utility attributes for devising scientifically well-founded operational, tactical, and strategic plans maximizing the farmer's utility and communicate those plans to the relevant parties.

Competencies

• Transfer theories and methods for combination and adjustment of production factors in animal production so that a given objective is met in the best possible way within the constraints imposed on production.
• Discuss production systems and production plans in relation to animal welfare as well as the environmental and other societal concerns.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, theoretical and practical exercises, project work in groups (a report must be submitted), and field trips. The course is almost completely based on project work.

Evaluation Model

Survey-based model

Literature

Academic literature identification, interpretation, and evaluation is a core element due to the project nature of the course.

Mandatory Formal Requirements for Course Registration

Livestock and Equine Production Science must have been conducted in Block 3 the same year as this course.

Exam

• Type of assessment: Written assignment and oral examination
• Type of assessment details: A project report must be submitted. Oral presentation and defense of the project report handed in. Weight: Oral examination 75%; Project report 25%.

Aid

All aids allowed. Generative AI (GAI) may be used as a support tool as long as the rules and regulations determined by UCPH are complied with.

Marking Scale

7-point grading scale

Censorship Form

No external censorship. Internal censorship. More than one examiner.

Re-exam

As the ordinary exam.

Criteria for Exam Assessment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

• Describe potentials and limitations of theories from ethology, physiology, nutrition, animal breeding, herd management, production economics, climate control, and epidemiology in relation to a concrete animal production context.
• Apply principles from utility theory for identification of farmer preferences (objectives) described by a list of attributes and their mutual weighting.
• Apply the relationships between factor allocation, constraints, and utility attributes for devising scientifically well-founded operational, tactical, and strategic plans maximizing the farmer's utility and communicate those plans to the relevant parties.
• Discuss production systems and production plans in relation to animal welfare as well as the environmental and other societal concerns.

Course Type

Single subject courses (day)

Workload

• Category: Lectures, Class Instruction, Preparation, Practical exercises, Excursions, Project work, Guidance, Exam
• Hours: 5, 75, 37, 10, 10, 250, 15, 10

Language

English

Course Number

SASK16004U

ECTS

15 ECTS

Programme Level

Full Degree Master

Duration

1 block

Placement

Block 4

Schedule Group

B And C

Capacity

30 students

Study Board

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 (Pig Track)
• Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira (Cattle track)
• Leonardo Victor de Knegt (Overall course responsibility)

Teacher

Bjarne Schmidt Bjerg

Additional Information

There is no teaching in Block week 8 of the course. During the first 1-2 weeks of the course, a few activities (for instance, field trips) may be organized during hours other than those of Modules B and C.