Production Animal Health and Breeding (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

Purpose of the course
After completing the course, you will be able to evaluate the factors that affect the health of most important farm animals. You know the most common diseases of farm animals and know the prevention of diseases. You know the principles of health care for farm animals. You are familiar with the breeding objectives of various farm animals and the methods of breeding, and you understand the importance of animal material for production.

Competences
Agricultural competence

Learning outcomes
You know how to process farm animals responsibly and profitably. You know the importance of animal health care for production and food safety.

Content

Legislation on the keeping of animals
Development of a young animal
Signs of a healthy animal
Pathogens and resistance to
Diseases and their prevention
Health Programmes
Breeding of farmed animals in Finland
Procedures for breeding animals
Basics of heredity and mating methods
Effects of animal breeding on animal material and production

Materials

Huhtamäki, T., (toim.) 2012. Vasikasta huippulypsylehmäksi . ProAgria Keskusten Liitto.
Juga, J., Maijala, K., Mäki-Tanila, A., Mäntysaari, E., Ojala, M. ja Syväjärvi, J. 1999. Kotieläinjalostus. Jyväskylä: Suomen kotieläinjalostusosuuskunta.
Bourdon, R. M. 2000. Understanding Animal Breeding. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Falconer, D. S. & Mackay, T. F. C. 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. 4. painos. Pearson Education Limited, Harlow, Essex, England.
Ruokaviraston webside. www.ruokavirasto.fi
Eläinterveys ry webside, www.ett.fi

Teaching methods

Course have a mandatory opening lecture and after that studying will go on as an independent online learning. Learning platform is Moodle and exploit different kind of applicable literature materials.

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

Independent work and assignments 135 h.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1
The student knows that preventive health care is important for production. The student knows Finnish health care systems.
The student knows about the existence of animal breeding in the development of animal material.

Satisfactory 2
The student takes into account the effects of preventive health care at the farm level and knows the importance of information gathering in health care systems.
The student knows the operating environment of animal breeding and the key organizations.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
The student is able to apply preventive health care guidelines for farm animals and knows how to use health care systems.
The student is able to utilize reports from the breeding of farm animals.

Very Good 4
The student is able to apply the instructions of preventive health care for farm animals at farm level. The student is able to use health care systems.
The student is able to utilize reports from the breeding of farm animals at farm level.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
The student is able to apply and plan preventive health care measures on farm level and is able to use health care systems.
The student is able to utilize reports from the breeding of farm animals and their breeding plan at farm level. The student understands the purpose of the breeding plan for farm animals.

Qualifications

Knowledge of care and vital functions of farm animals.
Circulation of farm animals and products and services from animals.
Key legislation and organisations related to farm animals in Finland.

Further information

Grading is based on learning assigments.