VET40130 Dairy Herd Fertility

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module will handle all factors that affect the reproductive performance of a dairy herd as a whole. It will focus on reproductive health, optimisation of fertility in high yielding cows, oestrous synchronisation and a herd health approach to fertility management. The role of major factors in the peri-parturient / post-partum periods contributing to fertility problems in dairy cows (eg nutrition, body condition score management, and predisposing conditions etc) in addition to bull management and genetics will be considered. Students will integrate reproduction and fertility with nutritional management, production data, health status and genetics / breeding. On completion of the module students should have a clear understanding of how to monitor and investigate fertility problems and what changes are appropriate in various circumstances to address specific fertility problems on dairy herds.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to: Understand the different synchronisation treatments availble for cow/herd synchronisation and their advantages and disadvantages. Interpret various standard and more complicated ultrasound images. Have a goodunderstanding of the impact of genetics on performance and fertiilty performance of the herd as a whole. Understand the different herd fertility parameters that are availble to measure farm performance. Be able to both calculate and interpret fertility records in relation to events and performance of the herd as a whole.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; peer and group work; lectures; reflective learning; lenquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning 
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
Project: Students are to analyse the reproductive records from a farm of one of their own clients. They have to provide a concise definition of the problems found with possible solutions Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% Yes

45
Assignment: Various assignments throughout the module focussing on specific topics, these can be both individual and group based Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% Yes

55

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

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Mark Crowe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Luke O'Grady Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Carla Coll Tutor
Mr John Donlon Tutor
Mr Finnian Logan Tutor
Dr Catherine Mc Aloon Tutor
Assoc Professor Conor McAloon Tutor
Miss Vicki Rhodes Tutor
Eilidh Elizabeth Thomson Tutor