SYLLABUS AN SC 320 – Fall 2014
Animal Science 320 - Livestock Growth and Meat Production (*3)
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science University of Alberta
Instructor: Heather L. Bruce, Ph.D.
Room 3-18E
Agriculture/Forestry Centre Office Telephone: 780-492-9871 Campus E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: by appointment (please e-mail) Lectures: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 8 to 9:20 am in GSB 211 Seminars: Wednesday, 12-12:50 pm in GSB 811
Prerequisites: AN SC 200 (strongly recommended)
OR *3 in university level biology and consent of instructor Course Description:
An introduction to the concepts of growth and development as applied to meat production from farm livestock. The form, function, growth and development of bone, muscle and fat will be reviewed and placed into context with current livestock management practices and recent genomic research. Visual appraisal of livestock will be compared to objective growth and carcass measurements.
Course Goals:
Upon completion of this course, the student should:
1. Have an appreciation for meat animal agriculture;
2. Be familiar with the important concepts of livestock growth and development, particularly as they apply to meat production from livestock;
3. Be familiar with literature of the discipline;
4. Experience solving problems using the resources of a large library and a small group of peers; and
5. Improved verbal, written and electronic communication skills Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the stages of pre-natal growth, and identify the factors that affect pre- natal growth and how these factors can affect post-natal growth;
2. Describe the cellular basis of organ and tissue growth;
3. Discuss post-natal growth and development and its relevance to meat production;
and
4. Demonstrate how growth is described and how these descriptions are used to make animal management decisions
5. Be familiar with growth promotion strategies used in Canadian cattle production Course Requirements:
During this course, students are required to participate in class discussions and to complete four quizzes, one mid-term examination, one term paper and one final exam.
The mid-term examination will be an oral examination lasting about 45 minute per student and will be scheduled individually. The final examination will be a written examination and will be written during scheduled final exam time. Students are required to abide by University policies on Academic Integrity and the Code of Student Behaviour (see below).
Electronic devices are restricted during examinations and quizzes to the use of non- programmable calculators only. During regular classes when examinations or quizzes are not being held, electronic devices are to be muted so that the class is not disturbed and the learning environment of your classmates is respected.
Term papers not received by the instructor by the required date and time will not be accepted. If a student misses a midterm or a quiz, the weight of the midterm or quiz may be transferred and added to the weight of the final exam. For a missed final exam, the decision to grant a deferred final exam can only be granted by the home Faculty (e.g.
ALES students go to the ALES undergraduate office, Science students go to the Science undergraduate office). The University policy on deferred exams can be found in Section 23.3.2 of the University Calendar, along with specific instructions on how to obtain a deferral.
Electronic communication with the instructor should include your first and last name, your student identification number and the course number. Please note that the most effective electronic communication with the instructor will be through e-mail.
Academic Integrity:
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of
facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (General Faculties Council 2003)
Code of Student Behaviour:
“All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at
http://www.governance.ualberta.ca/en/CodesofConductandResidenceCommunityStandar ds/CodeofStudentBehaviour.aspx. Please familiarize yourself with it and ensure that you do not participate in any inappropriate behavior as defined by the Code. Key components of the code include the following statements.
30.3.2(1) No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the Student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment,
presentation or poster in a course or program of study.
30.3.2(2) c. No Student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student’s own work.”
Required Textbook and Other Material:
Growth of Farm Animals, 3rd Edition, T. Lawrence, V. Fowler, and J. Novakofski, 2012.
The textbook is available in the Student Union Bookstore. The second edition is available on-line through the e-brary.
Other materials or Internet sites will be recommended throughout the course and will be made available through the course’s eClass site.
Course Grading:
Class Participation 5%
Quizzes 20% (4 quizzes, 5% per quiz)
Mid-term Exam (Oral) 25%
Term Paper 20%
Final Exam (Written) 30%
Date for Oral Mid-term Examination: Week of Oct 20 to 24, 2014, approximately 45 minute oral examination to be scheduled with students for that week on an individual basis.
Term Paper due: I will accept term papers until 17:30 (5:30 pm) on November 21st, 2014.
Date for Final Examination: Monday, December 8, 2014, at 9 am. Room to be announced.
Please note: The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. Policy about course outlines can be found in
§23.4(2) of the University Calendar.
Rubric for Term Paper
Key A (85-100%) B (75-
84.9%)
C (65- 74.9%)
D (50 – 64.9%)
F (<50%) Content/Accuracy
(30 points)
Important concepts of field discussed;
original hypotheses formulated and discussed;
future research suggested is novel and appropriate.
Review has a hypothesis focusing the paper.
Important concepts presented and discussed.
Citations are scientific.
At least one important concept presented and discussed.
Most citations are scientific.
At least one important concept presented.
No or few scientific papers cited.
No concepts presented, no
original scientific papers cited.
Style/Organization /Format
(30 points)
Review paper style and format
followed; paper has smooth flow of discussion and topics;
Format not strictly followed;
discussion flows well and may lack coherence in some areas
Format not followed;
discussion may not flow coherently or is excessive
Format not followed;
discussion recites research results but does not discuss
Format not followed;
no scientific research results presented Grammar
(20 points)
No
grammatical errors
3 to 5 grammar errors
5 to 7 grammar errors
7 to 10 grammar errors
Greater than 10 errors Spelling
(20 points)
No spelling errors
3 to 5 spelling mistakes and typos
5 to 7 spelling mistakes and typos
7 to 10 spelling mistakes and typos
Greater than 10 errors
Rubric for Course
Percentage Grade Letter Grade
95 – 100 A+
90 – 94.9 A
85 – 89.9 A-
80 – 84.9 B+
75 – 79.9 B
70 – 74.9 B-
65 – 69.9 C+
60 – 64.9 C
55 – 59.9 C-
50 – 54.9 D
< 50 F
AN SC 320 Term Paper Topics – Fall 2014
You should select a term paper topic on animal growth and production that is relevant to the course material about which you are PASSIONATE! Otherwise, I have suggested some potential topics below:
Design the perfect animal husbandry operation
• Pick your species or species and design a production scheme that will maximize yield or profit
• How will your production scheme affect meat quality?
Organ and tissue growth
• PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) offered a $1 million prize to the scientist or scientists that invent a process for growing meat in a Petri dish. Is this possible? What research on in vitro muscle has already been performed? Has science succeeded?
The use of growth promotants (bio-stimulators) in meat animal production
• What are bio-stimulators? What are some common commercially available bio-
stimulators? What are the differences between the various products available? What are the advantages and disadvantages to their use?
How have genetics changed animal production practices and meat yields?
• And how will genetics continue to change animal production?
How does the partitioning of energy in an animal change over time and how can this be used to production advantage?
• Can profit be maximized by managing animal growth?
The term paper will be graded using the following key:
Content/Accuracy – 30%
Style/Organization/Format – 30%
Grammar – 20%
Spelling – 20%
Format: According to Meat Science Guide for Authors (left-hand column red button) http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405866/authorinstructions Note: Papers DO NOT need to be in two column format as described in the Meat Science guide to authors.
ANSC 320 Course Schedule Fall 2014 Lecture
No.
Seminar No.
Date Topic Resource
material
Description
1 Sept 4 Introduction to Course Syllabus Define course
expectations
2 Sept 9 Animal Production Chapter 1 Practices, concepts
1 Sept 10 The review paper E-journals Duff & Galyean 2007
3 Sept 11 Principles of Growth 1 Definitions and concepts
4 Sept 16 Principles of Growth 2 Definitions and concepts
2 Sept 17 The abstract E-journals Duff & Galyean 2007
5 Sept 18 Sex ratio Definitions, factors
affecting it
6 Sept 23 Pre-natal growth 1 Embryological growth
3 Sept 24 The introduction E-journals Duff & Galyean 2007
7 Sept 25 Pre-natal growth 2 Factors affecting it
8 Sept 30 Pre-natal growth 3 Size at birth
4 Oct 1 Constructing the review E-journals Duff & Galyean 2007
9 Oct 2 Organ growth Factors affecting it
10 Oct 7 Connective tissue Collagens and related
5 Oct 8 Organizing within topic E-journals Duff & Galyean 2007
11 Oct 9 Elastin, cartilage & bone Proteins and assembly
12 Oct 14 Bone Assembly and structure
6 Oct 15 Review paper format Duff & Galyean 2007
13 Oct 16 Bone Assembly and structure
14 Oct 21 Fat In class presentation
7 Oct 22 Style and grammar E-journals Meat Science
15 Oct 23 Muscle formation 1 Embryological
16 Oct 28 Muscle formation 2 Embryological
8 Oct 29 Free question period
17 Oct 30 Genetic mutations and
meat quality
Muscle quality defects related to growth
18 Nov 4 Post-natal growth Tissue partitioning
9 Nov 5 Free question period
19 Nov 6 Nutrition and growth Compensatory growth
20 Nov 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY NO CLASSES
10 Nov 12 Free question period
21 Nov 13 Bio-stimulators Growth hormones
22 Nov 18 Bio-stimulators B-agonists
11 Nov 19 Free question period
23 Nov 21 Bio-energetics Definitions of energy
24 Nov 25 Bio-energetics Diet and biological type
12 Nov 26 Free question period
25 Nov 27 Residual Feed Intake Growth efficiency
26 Dec 2 Environment and
Phenotype
Interaction between the two
13 Dec 3 Free question period For final exam
Disclaimer – the instructor reserves the right to change the schedule without notice.
