Production Animal Care and Welfare (8 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

The course consists of five parts: feed and feeding, health, wellbeing, breeding and product quality.

Objective

The student is able to plan the feeding and care of the most important production animals. The student is able to determine the nutritional requirements of various animals according to their various production stages and estimate the influence of nutritional factors on the quality of livestock products and livestock welfare. The students can principles of disease prevention and can describe the principles of livestock health care. The student knows the most important laws and regulations. The student knows the breeding objectives and methods for different farm animals and understands the importance of animal material in the production and welfare.

Content

Development of young animals
Determination of the necessary nutrients
Feeds and their properties
Planning of feeding
Products and their quality
The characteristics of healthy animals
Diseases and their prevention
Health care programs
Breeding operations in Finland
Breeding objectives and methods
Basics of heredity in brief
The effects of breeding on animal material and production
The most important laws and regulations.

Materials

Harrikari, T. & Raukola, I. 2009. Siipikarjantuotanto elinkeinona. Opetushallitus. Vammalan Kirjapaino Oy.

Hulsen, J. & Lam, T.2011. Utareterveys - Hedelmällisyys. ProAgria Keskusten Liiton julkaisuja.

Kaaro,K., Kuisma, A., Nopanen, A., Partanen, K., Perttilä, S. & Äijö, H. Sikatalous. 2012. Opetushallitus.

Hulsen, J. & Aerden, D. 2014 Ruokintahavaintoja. ProAgria Keskusten Liitto

Huhtamäki, T., (toim.) 2012. Vasikasta huippulypsylehmäksi . ProAgria Keskusten Liitto.

Kyntäjä, J., Nokka, S. & Harmoinen, S. (toim). 2010. Lypsylehmän ruokinta. ProAgria Keskusten Liitto.

Saastamoinen, M., Hyyppä, S. ja Teppinen A. 2017: Hevosen ruokinta ja hoito, hyvinvoiva hevonen - tyytyväinen omistaja.ProAgria Keskusten liitto, Ajasto Paperproducts Oy.

Juga, J., Maijala, K., Mäki-Tanila, A., Mäntysaari, E., Ojala, M. ja Syväjärvi, J. 1999. Kotieläinjalostus. Jyväskylä: Suomen kotieläinjalostusosuuskunta.

Teaching methods

Lectures or lecture recordings, independent work and learning assignments or independent online learning.

Completion alternatives

The course or part of it can be completed on the basis of previous competence or by studying in working life.

Student workload

Lectures 48 h, independent work 168 h of assignments.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

0 (fail) The learning requirement for the course is not met.
1 (adequate) The students knows the basics of production animal care and welfare.
2 (satisfactory) Along with aforementioned, the student knows the food requirements of production animals and knows how to plan the feeding of production animals. The student knows the most common diseases and the operational environment of production animal health care.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 (good) Along with aforementioned, the student knows the impact animal feeding and care have on production, product quality and the environment. The student knows the essential laws and statutes regulating animal welfare.
4 (very good) Along with aforementioned, the student knows the meaning of breeding to the production and welfare of production animals.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 (excellent) Along with aforementioned, the student knows how to independently apply in a farm environment what she/he has learned and is able to evaluate the impact feeding and breeding have on food quality.