Module Details

Module Code: n/a
Full Title: Herd Health
Valid From:: Semester 2 - 2023/24 ( January 2024 )
Language of Instruction:English
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits:: 5
Module Owner:: Caren McAteer
Departments: Agriculture, Food and Animal Health
Module Description: The module applies the principles of on-farm biosecurity to various farm enterprises and identifies specific disease problems within a herd with view to the development of a comprehensive Herd Health Plan.
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Discuss the epidemiology & clinical effects of infectious conditions that are endemic within the Irish national herd and exotic diseases that pose a significant threat to the Irish farming industry.
MLO2 Appraise the relevant laboratory and on-farm tests used to identify infected animals.
MLO3 Apply the principles involved in designing, implementing & evaluating a disease control or eradication programme on farms.
MLO4 Identify causes of infertility, mastitis and other significant production problems within a herd and implement optimal and sustainable management practices in order to decrease their incidence.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
72096   Herd Health
 
Module Indicative Content
Biosecurity and welfare
• Immunity – active and passive • Infectious agents and their methods of replication, infection and spread. • The main biosecurity measures needed on farms including the concept of a “closed herd” • The concepts of doughtful, false positives, false negatives and empty test results. • The interpretation of laboratory tests and evaluation of the disease incidence or trends over time. • Principles of identification and isolation of cohort groups of animals with clinical infection or as subclinical carriers. • Methods of disinfection and isolation. • Animal husbandry & welfare best practices
Animal Diseases and Metabolic Disorders
Principles of pathogenesis & disease spread. Zoonotic conditions and their public health significance. Clinical signs and pathogenesis of farm animal diseases with emphasis on those endemic in the Irish national herd – TB, Brucellosis, leptospirosis, listeriosis, IBR, BVD, BVD eradication system, mastitis, Johne’s disease, cryptosporidiosis. Introduction to exotic diseases that pose a risk to the Irish farming industry, such as Bluetongue, Foot & Mouth, Rinderpest and Schmallanberg.
Herd Health Management
Herd Health Plans and their implementation. Analysis of herd health records to identify problems and set production and health targets. Identification and management of key risk factors for disease and herd health problems. Design and implementation of a disease control or eradication programme, including the compulsory BVD eradication scheme via ear notch and blood samples. Evaluation of the efficacy of an implemented disease programme and modification of the programme based on the results. Stakeholder and team based approach to disease management and eradication. Recognition and management of herd infertility problems. Prevention and control of metabolic disorders such as grass tetany, milk fever, bloat, acidosis etc. by proper and adequate nutrition. Health management in an organic livestock system: nutrition, homeopathic and naturopathic treatments.
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work50.00%
Final Examination50.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Part-time

Course Work
Assessment Type Continuous Assessment % of Total Mark 50
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 40
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Prepare a Biosecurity and Herd Health Plan for a student's farm (or a farm they are familiar with)
No Project
No Practical
Final Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 50
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 40
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcome 1,3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
End of semester exam
Reassessment Requirement
A repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

This module has no Full-time workload.
Workload: Part-time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Interactive lectures in the subject area Every Week 1.50 1.5
Directed Reading Non Contact Reading related to module content Every Week 3.00 3
Independent Study Non Contact Study related to module content and assessments Every Week 2.00 2
Lecture Contact Synchronous contact related to indicative content. Every Week 0.50 0.5
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Divers, T.. (2007), Reubeun's Diseases of Dairy Cattle, 2nd. Saunders, W.B..
  • Rollin, B. (2003), Farm Animal Welfare, 1st. Blackwell.
  • Radostits, O.M., Blood, D.C. (2001), Herd Health: Food Animal Production Medicine, 2nd. Saunders, W.B., [ISBN: 978-0721676944].
  • Boden, E. (2007), Blacks Student Veterinary Dictionary, A & C Black Publishers, [ISBN: 978-0911910933].
  • Merck. (2010), The Merck Veterinary Manual, 10th. Merck Manuals, [ISBN: 978-0911910933].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • BBlowey, R.W.. (2007), Cattle Lameness and Hoofecare, 2nd. Old Pond Publishing, [ISBN: 978-1905523283].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources