Animal Science Course of Study
(Based on Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources National Career Cluster)
Course: Animal Science
Grade Level: 11 - 12
Length: 7200 minutes
Pathway Knowledge and Skills Statement: Apply knowledge of anatomy and
physiology to produce and/or manage animals in a domesticated or natural
environment.
Course Description: The animal systems pathway educates students in all
facets of animal science. Developing better, more efficient ways of producing
and processing meat, poultry and dairy products is explored. Additionally, the
study of genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth and development of
domesticated farm animals is discussed.
Performance Element:
Use classification systems to explain basic
functions of animal anatomy and physiology.
(825 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Describe functional differences in animal structures
and body systems. (3023B)
Classify animals according to anatomy and
physiology. (3023B)
Examine, describe and use terms of direction and
position in the vertebrate body. (3021A)
Examine and explain general glandular functions
including secretion and excretion. (3021B)
Define and understand the terms comparative
anatomy, homology and analogy. (3023A)
Discuss the functions of anatomical structures and
compare them to similar (analogous and homologous)
structures in other animals. (3023B)
Differentiate between and identify digestive systems
of man, horses, swine, poultry and cows. (3024C)
Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and
function of the digestive system and its components.
(3024A, 3024B, 3024D)
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Recognize the anatomy of animal species to
understand how the body structures interact and
affect animal health.
(550 minutes)
Identify selected animal parts from a diagram or on a
real animal. (3022A, 3022B, 3022C)
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Identify ways that an animal’s health can be affected
by anatomy/physiology problems. (3051A, 3057A)
Examine and describe the basic physiological function
of the primary components the skeletal, nervous, and
respiratory systems. (3022D)
Performance Element:
Analyze a subject animal to determine the nature
of its health status.
(710 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Perform simple procedures in evaluating an animal’s
health status. (3052A)
Identify symptoms of diseases, illnesses, parasites,
and other health-related problems. (3053A, 3051A)
Diagnose animal ailments. (3053A, 3057A)
Implement disease prevention and health
improvement program. (3054B, 3054C)
Identify and implement (i.e., treat) treatment options.
(3054C)
Understand the concepts of body temperature, heart
rate and respiration in animal health. (3052A)
Examine methods of control for an internal or external
parasite. (3054A)
Read and interpret the information found on
medication labels. (3054D)
Examine the proper method for vaccinating an animal.
(3054E)
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Pathway Knowledge and Skills Statement: Recognize animal behaviors to
facilitate working with animals safely.
Performance Element:
Develop a safety plan for working with a specific
animal.
(550 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Explain factors that serve to stimulate or discourage
given types of animal behavior. (3037D, 3013C)
Recognize the normality curve of animal behavior.
(3037D, 3013C)
Perform safe handling procedures when working with
animals. (3013C, 3037D&E)
Identify strengths and weaknesses of an animal
safety handling plan. (3013C, 3037E)
Operate animal facilities to insure safety of animals.
(3013C, 3037D)
Examine and discuss (with the use of slides) various
animal behaviors and the times of occurrence
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including: nest building, mating behavior, postpartum
behavior, environmental comfort and social order.
(3037C)
Examine and discuss how as animal managers, we
may take advantage of dam/offspring interaction in
order to improve herd management. (3038C)
Pathway Knowledge and Skills Statement: Provide proper nutrition to
maintain animal performance.
Performance Element:
Examine animal developmental stages to
comprehend why nutrient requirements are
different throughout an animal’s life cycle.
(330 minutes)
Measurement Criteria
Recognize the different phases of an animal’s life
cycle. (3017A)
Select diets which provide the appropriate quantity of
nutrients for each animal developmental stage.
(3046A)
Describe and examine the methods of preparation of
livestock feeds and outline the advantages of or
reasons for each of those methods. (3048A)
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Analyze a feed ration to determine whether or not
it fulfills a given animal’s nutrient requirements.
(440 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Identify the differences between good and poor
quality feedstuffs. (3046A)
Create a balanced ration for a given animal. (3049A)
Identify samples of concentrates and roughages;
compare the energy, nutrients and bulk supplied by
each; and list sources of both. (3046A)
Visually identify different common feed additives,
examine their components, and list reasons for using
them. (3047A, 3047B)
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Performance Element:
Record and compare feed variations to assess
whether the nutritional requirements of a given
animal are being met.
(770 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Use different types of feedstuffs (e.g., roughage,
concentrates) to create a feed ration containing the
appropriate amounts of required nutrients. (3049D,
3041A))
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Use different forms of feedstuffs (e.g., pellets,
cracked, rolled, ground) to create a diet that meets
the needs of a specific animal. (3049D)
Distinguish between a nutritionally balanced ration
and an economically balanced ration for livestock.
(3049B, 3049C)
List and examine the six classes of nutrients and
identify examples of feeds containing each. (3041A)
Understand the function of each nutrient needed by
livestock. (3041B)
Describe and compare the digestive systems in
ruminants and non-ruminants and how each
contributes to digestion. (3045D)
Pathway Knowledge and Skills Statement: Know the factors that influence
an animal’s reproductive cycle to explain species response.
Performance Element:
Analyze elements in the reproductive cycle to
explain differences between male and female
reproductive systems.
(550 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Identify the parts of male and female reproductive
tracts on example animals. (3025A)
Describe and understand the function of the major
organs found in the mammalian reproductive tract.
(3025E, 3025Q)
Accurately diagram an animal sperm and ovum and
identify all major parts. (3025F)
Analyze the reproductive cycle of a given animal.
Evaluate animal readiness for breeding.(3025,
3037C)
Examine the steps of mitosis. (3025G)
Examine the steps of meiosis. (3025H)
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Performance Element:
Discuss reproductive cycles and animal genetics
to show how they differ from species to species.
(770 minutes)
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Discuss the implications of genetic variation. (3031)
Examine and discuss the transmission of genes
through meiotic division to form sperm and ova.
(3025K)
Define and understand the terms chromosomes,
nucleic acids, DNA, and RNA. (3032A)
Define and understand the terms haploid, diploid, and
segregation. (3032B)
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Define and understand the terms phenotype,
genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, allele, gene,
dominant and recessive. (3033A)
Define and understand mutation and describe two
effects that mutation has had on commercial animal
agriculture and what future mutations many bring.
(3034A)
Discuss the pros and cons of breeding through
natural cover and artificial insemination. (3026B,
3026C)
Describe techniques of artificial insemination. (3026B)
Identify reproduction management practices (e.g.,
male to female ratios, age and weight for breeding,
fertility and soundness for breeding, heat
synchronization, flushing). (3026)
Outline and assess the resulting long-term
physiological and behavioral results of different
castrated animals. (3025B)
List and compare the gestation length, time of
ovulation and length of estrus for four domestic
species of economic importance. (3025I, 3025R)
Examine and describe the process of fertilization in
animals. (3025J)
Define, examine and discuss the events leading to,
during and after parturition. (3025M, 3025N)
Describe a surgical and a nonsurgical method of
embryo transfer and explain the impact that embryo
transfer has made on the animal genetics industry.
(3026)
Performance Element:
Evaluate an animal to determine its breeding
soundness.
(275 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Describe the procedure for determining an animal’s
breeding readiness. *(3025)
Identify and prevent problems associated with
reproduction. *(3025)
Select animals based on breeding soundness.
*(3025)
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Pathway Knowledge and Skills Statement: Identify environmental factors
that affect an animal’s performance.
Performance Element:
Recognize optimum performance for a given
animal species.
(220 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Identify good performance for a given animal species.
(3017A)
Identify reasons why some animals perform better
than others. (3017A)
Understand the role of adaptation to environment and
the important role mutation can play in the success of
a species. (3023)
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Create a program to develop an animal to its
highest potential performance.
(220 minutes)
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Identify and examine role of livestock in agriculture
and food production chain. (3011A)
Identify factors that can be manipulated to control a
given animal’s performance. (3012B)
Generate ways to increase an animal’s performance.
(3012B)
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Assess an animal to determine if it has reached
its optimum performance level.
(330 minutes)
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Make appropriate changes in an animal’s
environment in order to achieve optimum
performance. (3017A)
Use appropriate tools in manipulating animal
performance. (3012B)
List and examine uses of livestock evaluation for the
producer. (3061A)
Differentiate between ideal and improper meat animal
types. (3061B)
Evaluate three species of livestock on a comparative
basis. (3061C)
Demonstrate proper grooming and showing
techniques for at least two large animal species.
(3062A)
List and examine uses of carcass evaluation for the
producer. (3063A)
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Discuss and examine how the consumers' concerns
for nutrition and food safety, as well as economic
concerns, have shaped the animal products sold
today. (3064A)
Performance Element:
Develop efficient procedures to produce
consistently high quality animals, well-suited for
their intended purpose.
(330 minutes)
Measurement Criteria:
Identify a given species’ desirable production
numbers (e.g., birth weight, rate of gain, age of
maturity, age of sexual maturity). (3031 or species
“Basic Concept)
Evaluate desired traits (e.g., production) of animals.
(3031)
Evaluate the role that economics plays in animal
production. (3012)
Design facilities appropriate for the production of a
given species of animal. (Species “Housing E
& Equipment”)
Make decisions on using new techniques and
methods in the production facility so that both profit
and animal safety are maximized. (3013C, 3012C,
3017A)
Examine and discuss each of the performance
modifiers used in animal agriculture and their general
effect. (3012B)
Examine public health issues related to animal
performance modifiers and their uses. (3012A)
Debate the issues concerned with animal welfare
(e.g., hunting vs. anti-hunting). (3013A)
Gain an understanding of why waste management is
important. (3014C, 3014F)
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Performance Element:
Generate an awareness and understanding of the
various careers and niches available in the animal
science field.
(330 minutes)
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Explain common terms used in the Aquaculture
Industry. (3072A)
Explain the use of fish in the agricultural and public
sector. (3072B)
Describe the living environment of a fish. (3072H)
List careers related to small animal management.
(3191A)
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List the different kinds of small animal management.
(3191B)
List career options available in veterinary related
fields. (3201-A)
Understand veterinary school requirements (prior to
attending and during). (3201A-B)
Know of the different areas of veterinary science other
than only being a doctor of veterinary medicine.
(3201A-C)
Related FFA Activities
 Agricultural Issues
 Demonstration
 Greenhand Public Speaking
 Job Interview
 Junior High Public Speaking
 Public Speaking
 Agricultural Sales
 Dairy Cattle Judging
 Dairy Cattle Showmanship
 Farm Business Management
 Horse Judging
 Livestock Judging
 Marketing
 Meats Evaluation
 Milk Quality/Dairy Foods
 Broiler Contest
 Cornish Hen Contest
 Poultry
Related SAE Activities
A. Students may participate in livestock and animal production projects:
1. Market steers
2. Breeding cattle
3. Market lambs
4. Breeding sheep
5. Market swine
6. Breeding swine
7. Dairy replacement heifers
8. Breeding dairy
9. Horses
10. Rabbits
11. Breeding goats
12. Poultry
13. Bee colonies
B. Students may participate in wildlife projects:
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1. Deer ranches
2. Turkey
3. Mink
4. Fish/Aquaculture
D. Students can participate in experience projects:
1. Feed store or mill assistant
2. Field worker
3. Tractor driver
4. General farm worker
5. Hay hauler
6. Livestock feeder
7. Milker
8. Fish and game assistant
9. Mechanic
10. ASCS or CES intern
11. Intern with commodity or government agency
12. Horse farm or race track employee
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