AP2A35-Animal Health and Disease

Module Provider: Agriculture
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Kate Johnson
Email: k.f.johnson@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module comprises a series of lectures, classroom exercises, coursework and final exam to help you develop subject specific, as well as transferrable skills. You will learn what to look for when evaluating animal health, how to evaluate various disease management strategies to identify the most appropriate approach to maintaining animal health and welfare, and how to prepare a health plan for facility raising or managing animals. In addition, develop key transferrable skills including verbal and written communication (powerpoint presentation and essay writing), ability to work in a team (group work) and critical analysis (literature review).

Aims:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of animal health and disease. Emphasis is placed on the challenges posed by disease, the responses of animals to such challenges, and the management practices that can be employed to facilitate animal health. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Discuss the relationships between the disease challenges faced by the animal and its responses to those challenges

• Analyse the relationship between the animal, the causal agent and the environment in terms of the development and persistence of disease.

• Evaluate methods for preventing or controlling animal diseases

Additional outcomes:

Students will have the opportunity to develop/enhance the following transferrable skills:

• Team work


• Independent work


• Verbal communication and presentation skills


• Written communication


• Critical analysis

Outline content:

The module is intended to provide an overview of the health and disease issues associated with farm and companion animals. Contents include general considerations of health, disease challenge and immunity, and means of maintaining health and welfare in farm and companion species. The module will be of interest and relevance to students of agriculture, animal science and other biological science degrees.



The Lecture Content covers:

• General concepts o f health and disease in domestic animals

• The causes of disease and poor health

• Animals’ immune responses to diseases

• Epidemiological factors that influence disease susceptibility

• The methods for preventing or controlling animal diseases

• The principles necessary for the maintenance of health in domesticated animals

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be two 50-minute lectures each week. Students are required to (1) undertake a group exercise and (2) an independent piece of coursework.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Guided independent study:		80
Total hours by term	0		0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	40
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:
One and a half hour examination requiring the answers to two of four questions.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework

Team presentation (10% of module mark)

Individual ‘health plan’ written assignment (40% of module mark)

Formative assessment methods:

In class question and answer, and discussion

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination in August / September only.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 13 October 2021