Module: Animal and Crop Science

Module details

  • Module code

    1117

  • Module leader

    TBC

  • Module Level

    4

  • Module credits

    15

  • Min study time

    150 hours

  • Contact hrs

    36 hours

  • Teaching Period

    Semester 1

Module content

  • Animal physiology, biology, genetics and breeding, milk hygiene and quality, nutrition and diets, parasitology, growth and development.
  • Principles and use of classification systems.
  • Plant cell biology in relation to growth and production of new biomass.
  • Physiological processes of importance to crop production.
  • Plant nutrition and the biology of nitrogen fixation and assimilation.
  • Plant and crop growth cycles, crop canopy development.
  • Phenological aspects of crop growth and development – growth stages.
  • Formation of yield; ‘absolute’, potential’, ‘attainable’, ‘affordable’ and ‘actual’ yields.
  • Constraints to yield; impact of crop pests, weeds and diseases.
  • Biology of crop protection.
  • Soil parent material.
  • Soil constituents, texture and organic matter.
  • Land classification.
  • Soil analysis.

Module outcomes

To achieve credit for this module, students must be able to:

  1. Describe and discuss key biological principles in a range of livestock species
  2. Explain how key biological principles influence the efficiency of livestock production
  3. Describe and discuss key biological principles in a range of crop species
  4. Explain how key biological principles influence the efficiency of crop production

Assessment

Assessment Description Weighting
Coursework Crop Science Coursework 35%
Coursework Animal Science Coursework 35%
Examination Unseen exam (1.5 hours) 30%

Key texts

Students should be familiar with the content of at least one of the following:

  • Frandson, R.D. and Spurgeon, T.L. (2009). Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals. 7th Ed. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Fuller, M.F. (2004) The Encyclopaedia of Farm Animal Nutrition. CABI Publishing.
  • Givens, D.I., Owen, E., Axford, R.F.E. and Omed, H.M. (2000) Forage Evaluation in Ruminant Nutrition. CBI Publishing.
  • Hay, R.K.M. and Walker, A.J. (1989). An Introduction to the Physiology of Crop Yield. Longman.
  • Hopkins, W.G. (1999). Intro to Plant Physiology. John Wiley & Sons. Herren, R. (2000) The Science of Animal Agriculture. 2nd Ed. Delmar Publishers.
  • Lawrence, T.L.J. and Fowler, V.R. (1997). Growth of Farm Animals. CAB International.
  • McDonald, P., Edwards, R.A., Greenhalgh, J.F.D. and Morgan, C.A. (2002). Animal Nutrition. 6th Ed. Longman.
  • Soffe, R.J. (2003). The Agricultural Notebook. 20th Ed. Blackwell Scientific. Willis, M.B. (1998). Dalton's Introduction to Practical Animal Breeding. 4th Ed. Blackwell Science.

Journals

  • An International Journal of Animal Bioscience
  • Livestock Production Science 

Supporting texts