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VET40180

Academic Year 2026/2027

Herd Health Investig Skills (VET40180)

Subject:
Veterinary Medicine
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Veterinary Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Luke O'Grady
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module, the first in a series of six modules within the Graduate Certificate, focuses on foundational skills relevant to dairy herd health practice. It will provide an overview of the principles of dairy herd health practice, informed and structured around the key components of the 'Herd Health Cycle', including monitoring herd performance and herd problem-solving. The module will also consider epidemiological principles and methods, data management and analysis, complementary skills and dairy herd health programmes. The module will primarily be delivered on-line.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On the completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Integrate the herd health cycle into daily dairy herd health practice
- Explain key epidemiological principles and methods relevant to the herd health cycle
- Undertake data management and analysis, using Excel to assist with this task, and to navigate and interrogate the common herd health databases used in Ireland
- Integrate complementary skills into dairy herd health practice, including evidence-based veterinary medicine, animal health economics, animal welfare, and report writing for effective communications
- Provide an informed critique of current national and international perspectives on regulatory and non-regulatory dairy herd health issues, of challenges and opportunities for dairy herd health in Ireland, and of the context, mission and work programme of Animal Health Ireland

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Online Learning

100
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Each week students are required to engage with a range of online-learning activities through Brightspace. This will require approximately 10-12 hours of work per week.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Excel assignment

 Week 12 Other No
10
 No
Exam (Online): MCQ examination

Week 12 Other No
25
 No
Individual Project: Written report
Week 12 Other Yes
50
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in online group discussions
 Week 12 Other No
15
 Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


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

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mr Eoin Ryan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Carla Coll Tutor
Dr Catherine Mc Aloon Tutor
Professor Conor McAloon Tutor
Dr Locksley Messam Tutor
Professor Emma O'Neill Tutor
Eilidh Elizabeth Thomson Tutor
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