THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE
Extramural Practical Work in Animal Husbandry
Guidelines for preparation of Practical Work Books
All students are required to complete a minimum compulsory period of 98 days of extramural
training in Animal Husbandry.
A minimum compulsory period of 84 days of extramural training in Animal Husbandry on
commercial properties in addition to practical classes in Animal Husbandry at the University Farms,
Camden is to be undertaken by students.
An additional Compulsory Discretionary Period of 14 days can be used at the student’s discretion
to practise animal handling skills, gain experience with exotic species, etc. Further experience can,
and wherever possible should, be gained through working with veterinarians, attending animal shows
(particularly the Royal Agricultural Show), sales including cattle, sheep, and horse yearling and
thoroughbred-in-training sales, gymkhanas, etc, and this experience should be recorded.
Students are required to complete a Practical Work Book for submission during Week 1 of Year 4.
The workbook should contain the following information as set out in the Animal Husbandry Report
Template Guidelines below.
Animal Husbandry Report Template Guidelines:
1/ Cover Page - with student's full name and SID
2/ Summary Page
3/ Table of Contents/Index
(Appendix VI - Index, and copy available on Website)
4/ Appendix V - Extramural Training In Animal Husbandry Practical Books Declaration
A signed form which declares that the student has undertaken all of the practical work requirements
(Appendix V).
5/ Previous Animal Experience Summary
A brief precis of your relevant previous experience - general, is including pets, voluntary work with
animals, etc.
6/ Animal Experience Gained Summary
A brief account of your experiences gained at shows, sales, gymkhanas, etc. Note that it may be
useful to include photographs which you can refer to when identifying common and rare breeds, or
unusual techniques, etc.
7/ Handling Skills Declarations: (please keep a copy of these declarations to present at your
Animal Handling Skills Test).
A/ Beef Cattle
B/ Horses
C/ Dairy Cattle
D/ Sheep
E/ Pigs
F/ Poultry
2
G/ Cats
H/ Dogs
Signed declarations that you have attained the required basic skills level for each species (Appendix
1). Amend the form, and initial each change, if you are not confident that you have attained sufficient
competency in any technique, e.g. despite your best efforts you may not have had an opportunity to
witness or practise particular techniques.
8/ All Pro Formas, Travel Consideration Forms & Exemption Letters in order of each species
below:
A/ Beef Cattle
B/ Horses
C/ Dairy Cattle
D/ Sheep
E/ Pigs
F/ Poultry
G/ Discretionary Period
Pro Formas signed by the manager/owners of each property visited stating that you have completed
the work in accordance with requirements. An example of this is provided (Appendix III) and further
copies are available from the Faculty Office. You should take a blank form with you for completion
by the supervising authoritative person every time you visit a property.
9/ Report contents with title page in order of:
A/ Beef Cattle
B/ Horses
C/ Dairy Cattle
D/ Sheep
E/ Pigs
F/ Poultry
G/ Discretionary Period
Property Management Reports (Appendix II), including your daily diary (Appendix IV). Include a
comprehensive but concise account of the properties you have visited. Students should include full
reports of at least two properties for each of the major species (horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep)
and at least one each for pigs and poultry. If you attend more than two properties for each of the major
species, you need only produce two full reports, but you should include a brief summary of the other
properties you attended and your daily diary, etc.
Note that it will not be possible for you to obtain all the information suggested in the guidelines, but
be as thorough as is reasonable at the time. Pay particular attention to aspects of animal management
involving veterinary intervention or potential intervention, and to an informed critique of the
operation of the enterprise.
The current marking scheme is:
10
Description of property, including illustrations (quality, relevance of diagrams and
photographs, evidence of participation in animal handling)
20 General observations on husbandry of the species (terminology, relevance of information to the
management of the species)
20
Observations on animal health and veterinary intervention (terminology, relevance)
10
Critique of scope for veterinary intervention
30
Critique of property management
10
General presentation (including typos, spelling and grammar)