ANSC20050 Principles of Dairy Production

Academic Year 2024/2025

The specific components addressed in this module include: Sustainable dairy production systems, with a focus on environmental, economic and social sustainability; the dairy industry nationally and internationally - current position and future trends; seasonality of production, product quality and implications for processing and marketing. Principles of dairy production and management practices as they relate to sustainable production systems, especially in relation to nutrition/feeding, breeding, reproduction. Costs and returns and factors affecting profitability will also be addressed. Each student is required to complete a project (library based) that will enable them to more closely examine and analyse a particular aspect of dairy production and will facilitate further development of their ICT Information/ Communication/Technology and inter-personal skills.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module the students should be able to: Outline the key facts about the dairy enterprise and industry and be able to describe various production systems. Explain systems of sustainable dairy production in terms of the applications of key principles, concepts and ideas. Analyse systems of production both from the biological/technical and financial perspectives, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations for remedial action as appropriate. Outline the sources of reliable information relevant to each enterprise, including the role of the Irish research organisations. Evaluate, organise and present information from a variety of sources.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Practical

4
Specified Learning Activities

24
Autonomous Student Learning

56
Total

108
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Content for this module will be delivered through lectures and also involves an individual project (literature review). 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Exam (In-person): MCQ Exam n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

25
Individual Project: The project will involve a literature review on a factor affecting profitability in Irish dairy production. n/a Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mr Michael Doran Tutor
Dr Nicholas Ryan Tutor
Dr Stafford Vigors Tutor