Great Basin College
ANSC 100 Elements of Livestock Production
Fall 2011 – 3 credits
Instructor: Jennifer Whiteley Email Address: jenniferwhiteley@rocketmail.com
Phone: 934-3207
Class Schedule: Lecture – MW 4:00-5:15
RM: Lundberg 114
Lab Schedule: At least 4 labs TBA
Office Hours: By appointment
Required Text: Fundamentals of Animal Science. Colin Scanes. ISBN: 1-4283-6127-8.
Format: Lectures, labs, field trips, participation
Course Catalog Description:
ANSC 100 Elements of Livestock Production
Fundamental concepts in care, management, and economics of food producing animals. Includes
contributions of the Nevada and U.S. animal industries in providing food on an international
basis. Prerequisite: None
Course Content:
In this introductory course, students will receive an overview of principles of Animal Science
and the interrelationships of domestic animals and mankind. The course introduces some basic
biology of animals including cell function, genetics, anatomy and physiology, reproduction,
nutrition, animal health and disease, animal products, and animal behavior. The laboratory
component will provide both hands-on animal experience and food science and biotechnology to
complement the lecture. This course is directly transferable to the University of Nevada, Reno
as ANSC 100, and is worth 3 credits.
General Education Objectives:
Communication Skills:
Students will have several opportunities to demonstrate strong written communication skills via
the laboratory experience reports and the final research paper. Reading and listening skills will
be heavily used during lectures. They will complete laboratory reports and written assignments
accessing scientific information as well as written exams. Oral skills are a key component of
interaction with the instructor during lectures, discussions, and in completing the four laboratory
experiences.
Measurement of this objective: lecture exams and lab/lecture quizzes (students will be able to
read and answer exam questions in written form), written lab report (students will clearly
communicate scientific information in written form, see “lab report” below), class discussions
(students will be able to communicate scientific ideas orally, ungraded).
Critical Thinking:
Quantitative skills will be required for key concepts in genetics, and mathematical operations
will be assessed in exams and laboratory experiences. They will also learn how to quantitatively
measure animal biological characteristics. Reasoning and independent thought is required for
successful completion of both the written report and lab experiences. Scientific understanding is
of course at the heart of this course, which emphasizes the use of the scientific method in the
development of key theories and principles of animal science.
Measurement of this objective: lecture exams and lab/lecture quizzes (students will be able to
answer quantitative questions related to anatomy and physiology on exams, many questions on
the exams will require the student to examine data and make an independent conclusion), written
lab report (students will calculate and present quantitative results clearly in the lab report), and
class discussions (ungraded).
Personal Wellness:
An introduction to genetics, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition are explicitly learned in this
course. Students will develop skills in proper livestock handling and the consequences of their
actions in relation to the environment and their personal health. All of these topics give an
understanding of key human health and wellness factors.
Measurement of this objective: lecture exams and lab/lecture quizzes (students will be able to
answer exam questions on animal health, much of which is directly related to human health),
class discussions (students will discuss the proper handling of livestock to maintain human
health and wellness, ungraded).
Minor Objectives:
Utilize the scientific method to construct reasonable hypotheses and communicate effectively in
a written form.
Participate in limited laboratory experiences.
Examine the impact and ethical issues of science and technology on our lives and the global
society.
Appreciate the art and beauty of nature and biological processes.
Course Objectives:
The objective of this class is to introduce students to the area of animal science and give them a
strong appreciation and understanding of the many aspects of the livestock and poultry
industry. Comprehensive information and discussion will focus on biological principles of
animal function and management for efficient livestock production.
Expected Learner Outcomes:
Learner Outcome Measurements:
Chronicle the U.S. history of animal agriculture
industry
Quizzes and tests
Survey various careers in animal science and
identify education requirements for those careers
Quizzes and tests
Explain the basics of animal breeding and hybrid
vigor
Quizzes and tests
Outline the basic reproductive structures, functions,
and roles in reproductive management of livestock
species
Quizzes and tests
Identify livestock body conformation and how it
relates to function and list positive selection
characteristics for each species
Quizzes and tests
Distinguish basic breeds of dairy cattle and describe
the production cycle of the dairy cattle herd
Quizzes and tests
Distinguish basic breeds of beef cattle and perform
various beef cattle handling techniques
Quizzes and tests
Distinguish basic breeds of sheep and describe the
production cycle of the range and pasture sheep
herds
Quizzes and tests
Identify swine breeds and compare and contrast
different swine productions systems in the U.S.
Quizzes and tests
Distinguish basic breeds of horses and explain the
nutritional and reproductive care of horses
Quizzes and tests
Distinguish basic breeds of poultry and describe the
various grading systems for poultry and eggs
Quizzes and tests
Recognize the marketability, quality and yield
grades of market animals and dairy products
Quizzes and tests
Collect and evaluate data used to ensure
scientifically-based management decisions
Quizzes and tests
Course Expectations and Academic Dishonesty:
Academic Dishonesty:
Each student is expected to be honest in his or her work. Cheating of any kind and plagiarism are
both forms of dishonesty. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or
direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear
acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another
person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers and/or other academic materials.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may result in a failing grade and/or reporting to
GBC Administration. Please be aware that faculty members have easy access to databases to
double check any student work against published books or internet resources. You are therefore
strongly encouraged to cite published work within quotation marks, e.g.: “As Dr. Melsin
mentioned in his book …” with appropriate referencing, e.g.: (Melsin 1999).
As per Great Basin College policy, plagiarism is defined as:
“Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words, ideas or data as one’s own. When a student
submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information
must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references; and if verbatim
statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or
speaking, the students will acknowledge the source whenever: 1) Another person’s actual words
are quoted, 2) Another person’s idea, opinion or theory is used, even if it is completely
paraphrased in the student’s own words, 3) Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are
borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge.”
Attendance:
Attending all class sessions and laboratories will be essential for, not only each student’s success,
but the success of the entire class. Students will be expected to be engaged and participate in all
class discussions, class projects, laboratories and all student participation grades will be recorded
accordingly.
Absences arranged with instructor prior to missed class may be considered an authorized absence
at the discretion of the instructor. With authorized absences, it is the responsibility of the student
turn in any due assignments prior to the absence, arrange for any make-up work, and get class
notes from another student. In the event of an unauthorized absence (no phone call to instructor
prior to missing class), the student will not be able to make-up work, quizzes, or tests missed that
day. Except under pre-approved circumstances, laboratories cannot be made up and attendance
is required.
Assignments:
Course work is due before or at the start of class on the day it is assigned. Assignments turned in
late will drop one letter grade for each day late. This means that an “A” quality assignment
turned in more than 3 days late would receive an “F”.
Laboratories:
One lab will be a field trip to Maggie Creek Ranch, on. Please pre-arrange this date with your
other instructors and your employer to ensure you can attend this event. Additional laboratories,
field trips, and guest speakers may be announced during the course. Adequate time will be given
to make arrangements with your other classes. Students not able to attend labs will be asked to
write a 7-10 page paper on a topic of the instructor’s choice.
Generally, laboratories topics include:
A. Beef Cattle – proper handling, restraint, weighing, animal health, vaccination procedures.
B. Dairy – cheese making.
C. Poultry – marketing and classification of eggs, candling, incubating, proper handling.
D. Sheep – Meats identification, cutting, and wrapping.
Use of computers in this course: This course will make use of WebCampus. To log in, go to
webcampus.gbcnv.edu. Your WebCampus ID is your Great Basin College email address ID. If
you don't have a GBC email address or don't remember your address go to the Technology Help
Desk helpdesk@gwmail.gbcnv.edu, or call 775-753-2167. Passwords will be sent by mail to
students who register for their course(s) 5 days before the semester begins. If you register after
this time or did not receive a letter by mail, contact the Help Desk as soon as possible.
I do not have the capacity to help you with computer-technical issues. You will receive much
faster and more knowledgeable assistance from the Help Desk. Please go to them for technical
assistance. You bear the responsibility for getting the technical aspects of the course to function
properly so that you can participate fully.
ADA Statement:
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified
students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A
qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The ADA Officer (Julie G.
Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable
accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please
call 753-2271.
Student Learning Assessment:
Assessment Devise: Standard College grading scale will be used. The following items will be
graded accordingly and will carry the assigned grading values:
A)
Lab Reports, Field Trip write-ups
100 pts
B)
Research Project/Presentation
100 pts
C)
Student participation (incl. reading summaries/quiz’s)
100 pts
C)
Weekly quizzes/homework (8 quizzes @ 10 pts each)
80 pts
D)
Tests** (2 tests and 1 final exam @ 100 pts each)
300 pts
Total Points
680 pts
**Approximately ¼ of the test material will be derived from assigned readings with the
remainder based on class lectures, labs, and field trips.
Passing grades for this course range from “A” through “D”. Grade values are as follows:
A 90-100% B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 59% or less
Paper Assignment: Due Dec 5, 2010
*Due dates are subject to change
Research Paper Format:
Introduction: Introduce the problem. This is the literature review section where the subject
matter is introduced and some general background information is provided. The introduction will
require the use of library resources to locate related research papers that discuss similar subject
matter. Students will summarize a minimum of four outside studies (preferably journal/peer
reviewed) as they relate to the class project. The objective of the study is clearly stated at the
end of the introduction.
Methods: Explain how the trial was conducted to meet the needs of the objectives. Include dates,
feed, housing, breeds, age, sex, experimental design, treatments, anything related to the setup and
execution of the study.
Results: Report the data in a manner that is easy to understand. Graphs, charts or table formats
are required.
Discussion: Discuss the data as it relates to the hypothesis, i.e., do results from this study prove
or disprove your hypothesis? Were the methods adequate to test the hypothesis? How does your
data compare to the literature described in the introduction?
**Results and discussion may be combined into a single section. If not, the results section
should not contain discussion of previously published work (from your library research). Results
and references to tables and figures already described in the results section should not be
repeated in the discussion section.
References: Site your references in the format used in the Journal of Animal Science or in APA
format.
Learner Outcomes: Describe in some detail what you have learned from this exercise, i.e. were
you aware of the precision required for scientific discovery or did you learn to look more
critically at information reported as “new scientific findings”?
Final Paper Grading will be as follows:
Points:
Presentation: Organization/neatness/professionalism
10
Sentence structure and grammar
20
Introduction:
10
Methods:
10
Results:
15
Discussion:
20
References: At least 4 solid references in correct format.
10
Learner Outcomes: What did you learn from this exercise?
5
Total:
100 pts.