ANSC40290 Sustainable livestock systems

Academic Year 2023/2024

Globally Livestock systems are the major user of agricultural land, either directly through grazing/pastoral activity or as a major consumer of cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds and their by-products. Such land use activity while delivering multiple benefits to global society (food, fibre, fuel, nutrient cycling etc) is associated with various negative externalities including greenhouse gas and transboundary gas emissions, deteriorations in water quality and loss of biodiversity.

Globally livestock production is faced with numerous challenges to mitigate these and other negative externalities, while at the same time delivering on an increased global demand for food products of animal origin, and concurrently delivering a sustainable livelihood for the hundreds of millions of people involved in livestock production globally.

This module is relevant to all graduate students interested in global systems of agriculture, food and sustainability.

It is developed to give students the opportunity to learn about global livestock production systems, integration of livestock production and cropping systems, livestock production and nature and livestock production and forestry.

Students will develop there understanding of the environmental impact of livestock production systems, strategies to mitigate this environmental impact and the central role livestock production systems play in global food systems

Additionally students will develop their expertise in understanding livestock systems, in interpretation of data and opinions, and in critical thinking .

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Understand global and regional livestock production systems
• Evaluate interactions among livestock production, livestock distribution and food demand challenges
• Critically evaluate the environmental impact (both positive and negative) of livestock productions systems
• Critically evaluate mitigation activities to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production systems
• Collaborate and communicate with peers and other stakeholders to engage and critically evaluate the latest developments in research and technology across livestock production systems

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Tutorial

20
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

190
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be delivered through the UCD VLE system and a series of field trips and teaching will consist of:
• Lectures
• Guest lectures and discussions by area experts
• Practical tutorials and peer-to-peer work
• Individual and group online presentations
tutorials and peer-to-peer work
• Field trips to research and commercial livestock production facilities
 
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
Continuous Assessment: Will include participation in in-class activities, written assignments, field reports and class presentations Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

100

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback from the online practical tutorials taken over the course of the trimester.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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