Module Identifier RS36520  
Module Title ANIMAL HEALTH  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Mr Sebastian D McBride  
Semester Semester 2  
Pre-Requisite BS23020 , BS31820  
Course delivery Lecture   40 Hours 10 x 1 hour lectures and 10 x 3 hour lectures  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam3 Hours Outcomes assessed: All  100%
Supplementary Exam3 Hours Outcomes assessed: All  100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:
i) Discuss the causes and mechanisms of infectious and non-infectious diseases and use this to predict how they spread in domestic livestock.
ii) Critically evaluate how housing and the environment can affect the health in both individual animals and on a heard basis.
iii) Critically assess potential threats to animal health, common to many species, in housing and managemental systems used in animal husbandry.
iv) Discriminate between the components of the `Triad of Disease? when approaching any evaluation and analysis of health status.
v) Comprehend that instigation of measures to improve general animal health depends upon sound scientific knowledge specific to the animal species, potential disease(s) and production system(s) in question.
vi) Discuss the major infectious, managemental and production diseases in livestock present in the UK and evaluate the relative importance and likelihood of each in different species and production systems.
vii) Identify measures for prevention and control of the diseases discussed and the appropriate respective treatments.
viii) Describe the associated notifiable and zoonotic diseases (including relevant legislation) and assess the value of various measures which could be taken to minimise the risks of human infection and spread within an animal population.
ix) Question and verify sources of information for accuracy and credibility and to integrate them in order to extrapolate possible future developments.

Brief description

This module aims to develop students' knowledge and skills in many aspects of animal health and the `Triad of Disease?. Special emphasis will be given to the general causes of disease and prevention in both individual animals and on a herd basis. It will also deal with the specific common infectious, managemental and production diseases of livestock in the UK including prevention and control. Notifiable and zoonotic diseases, along with any pertinent legislation relevant to the UK, will be discussed where appropriate.

Transferable skills

.2 IT and information handling
Students will need to source both quality textbooks and peer reviewed journal articles on several topics to supplement and expand upon information supplied in lectures. This will require extensive and competent use of systems such as Voyager and the Web of Science.

.3 Use and analysis of numerical information
Students will be advised how, and expected to, critically assess information from several self acquired sources on various topics. This module will encourage students to question and verify sources of information for accuracy and credibility and to integrate them in order to extrapolate possible future developments.

.4 Writing in an academic context
Written examination will require presentation of knowledge in a balanced fashion with opinions and conclusions based upon critical assessment of knowledge supplied or self obtained. Judgments will have to made about the relative credibility and importance of various sources of information.

.7 Self-management
Students will be informed in writing and verbally at the commencement of the module that they will be expected to further the knowledge they gain from lectures and also keep abreast of important and current animal health issues of both national and international in nature. This will require self management and motivation to find, examine, recognise subjectivity and integrate this information into their learning schedule.

Reading Lists

Books
Sainsbury D and Sainsbury P (1988) Livestock health and housing 3rd. Bailliere Tindall
Sainsbury D (1998) Animal health: health, disease and welfare of farm livestock Blackwell Scientific
Radostits, O M et al (2000) Veterinary medicine 9th. W B Saunders
Urquhart, - et al Veterinary parasitology 2nd. Longman Scientific and Technical
Black's Veterinary Dictionary A & C Black
(1991) The Merck Veterinary Manual 7th. Merck & Co Inc
Rosen, F and Geha R Case studies in immunology 3rd. Garland Publishing
Robinson, N E (ed) (1998) Current therapy in equine medicine 4 (also vols 2 and 3) W B Saunders
Colahan, P T (ed) (1991) Equine medicine and surgery Vols 1 and 1 American Vet Publications
Taylor, D (1995) Pig diseases 6th. St Edmundsbury Press
Webster, J (1993) Understanding the dairy cow 2nd. Blackwell Scientific Publications

Technical Reports
MAFF & FAWC Numerous reports on poultry housing and welfare

Journals
Veterinary Record BVA
In Practice (supplement to Veterinary Record) BVA
Equine Veterinary Journal BEVA
Equine Veterinary Education BEVA

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6