LARGE ANIMAL HEALTH CARE
VET3LAH
2018
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject, students will extend their knowledge and practical skills with cattle and sheep, beyond the introductory husbandry, handling and preventative health care covered earlier in the course. Via a work integrated learning (WIL) placement, students will learn how to safely work with large domesticated animals including cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas whilst undertaking a range of farm animal management procedures and assisting a veterinarian with the management of animal health conditions. Students will learn how to perform a number of reproductive assistance techniques in cattle, including: pregnancy testing, artificial insemination and assisting cows through parturition (calving), aswell as learning how to assist veterinarians with the diagnosis, treatment and surgical management of large animal health conditions including conditions like: bloat, caesareans and foot abscesses. Students will evaluate animal production systems from a holistic perspective, by undertaking an analysis of an animal production animal system from legal, behavioural, husbandry, welfare and ethical perspectives.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorDilhani Premaratna
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Must be admitted into SBVN and have passed VET2IAN and VET2PVN
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 3rd Ed. | Prescribed | Holtgrew-Bohling, K (2015) | Elsevier |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Critically analyse the legal, behavioural and husbandry requirements of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas) from an animal health management perspective
- Activities:
- Students undertake readings and watch videos, to develop underpinning knowledge. During a workshop, students work in teams to compare and contrast the requirements of sheep, cattle, goats and alpacas from a health management perspective. Students will examine the areas of legal, behavioural and husbandry requirements for each of these species.
02. Critically examine, from both ethical and financial perspectives, the animal health and welfare outcomes of a range of ruminant production systems
- Activities:
- Students undertake readings and watch videos on a number of different animal production systems and their financial viability. They also work through preparatory materials in the areas of animal welfare and animal ethics. During the workshop, the tutor guides the class through a consideration of how these aspects apply in different animal production systems. For their assessment task, individual students select a specific animal production system of interest to investigate in depth, and to analyse it from financial, welfare, ethical, legal, behavioural and financial perspectives.
03. Analyse the differences in ruminant animal anatomy and physiology, compared with other domesticated species, in order to identify specific and different nursing care requirements of ruminants
- Activities:
- Students undertake readings and watch videos, on the anatomy and physiology of ruminants. They are quizzed on these aspects in the pre-workshop quiz questions. Student teams work together during a workshop, to identify how the unique anatomical and physiological differences of ruminants will alter their nursing care requirements compared to other mammalian species.
04. Develop animal management plans for the nursing care requirements for large animals
- Activities:
- Students undertake readings and watch videos on a range of large production animal diseases, and the veterinary and nursing care that these patients require. They are also given links to government websites with information on notifiable diseases. Students select a health condition of interest, research it, and then in an oral presentation to the class, explain how the condition is diagnosed and treated by the veterinarian, and what nursing care is required by the patient
05. Perform reproductive techniques used in domesticated large animals
- Activities:
- Students undertake pre-workshop readings and watch videos on reproductive systems of large domesticated animals, and the management practices and techniques commonly used to assist with ensuring good reproductive outcomes. During a practical workshop, students will learn and practice a range of reproductive techniques on simulated models (eg "Breedn Betsy"). These will include such areas as pregnancy testing, artificial insemination and parturition (giving birth) assistance. Whilst out on placement, students will assist experienced personnel with a number of these techniques in live animal patients.
06. Demonstrate procedures on large animals, including animal handling and restraint techniques.
- Activities:
- Students will practice a range of large animal handling and restraint techniques, animal management procedures and health care procedures during their workshops. They will also go on to assist with a number of these techniques with live animal patients whilst on placement. Students will seek feedback from their tutor and supervisors to find areas which require further practice and development. Hurdle assessment.
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Epping, 2018, Week 29-43, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorDilhani Premaratna
Class requirements
WorkShop
Week:
29
-
42
Three 2.0 days workshop per study period
on weekdays
during the day
from week 29 to week 42
and delivered via face-to-face.
"This subject involves 3 x 2 day blocks of intensive workshops, and 5 days work integrated learning placement.
Prior to students being placed on WIL placements, they must demonstrate competence in large animal handling during a workshop
"
Placement - Off Site
Week:
29
-
42
Five 1.0 days placement - off site per study period
on any day including weekend
from week 29 to week 42
and delivered via face-to-face.
"Clinical Placement"
Unscheduled Online Class
Week:
29
-
42
One 1.0 hours unscheduled online class per week
on any day including weekend
from week 29 to week 42
and delivered via online.
"Delivered as reading material, quizzes, video clips."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mins In-class test (600 words equivalent) | 30 mins in class test. | 15 | 03, 04 |
| 20 minute practical examination (1000 words equivalent) | Held during examination period | 20 | 05 |
| 1200 word written essay | Select a large animal production system of interest, and examine the system from the perspectives of how adequately it: provides the animal's behavioural and husbandry requirements; meets legal requirements; and addresses the welfare needs of the animals involved. (1200 words) | 30 | 01, 02 |
| 10 minute oral presentation with 800-word written pamphlet (1300 words equivalent total) | Student selects a health condition/disease of a domesticated large animal species and explain the anatomical and physiological changes seen in this condition, the veterinary diagnosis and treatment, and the nursing care requirements of the patient. | 35 | 03, 04 |
| Animal handling practicum | Hurdle assessment Students to demonstrate effective and safe large animal handling techniques during their 2-day practical workshops. | 06 |