Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Field Trip | 2 x 4 Hour Field Trips |
| Lecture | 33 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Practical | 12 x 4 Hour Practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours | 40% |
| Semester Assessment | Pasture improvement assignment (1,500 words) | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Laboratory and rationing report (1,500 words) | 30% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Evaluate the characteristics and potential roles of a range of grass and legume species and varieties and assess and compare the suitability of a range of methods of pasture improvement.
2. Determine pasture nutrient requirements and recommend appropriate manurial strategies.
3. Describe and evaluate principles and systems of grazing and forage conservation.
4. Integrate relevant aspects of grassland management to describe, plan and evaluate grassland management techniques.
5. Apply recent advances in microbial ecology to understanding equine digestion.
6. Discuss the influence of microbial fermentation in disease states.
Brief description
This module will provide an understanding of the underlying scientific principles of equine grassland management and equip students with the knowledge to manage such grasslands in order to utilize its full potential for equine health. In addition, the module will cover the digestive anatomy, and the role of microbial populations in the horse, as well as the consequences of this for nutrient requirements and rationing in managing the horse’s gut and preventing digestive upsets.
Content
To provide students with a sound, basic understanding of the principles and practice of equine grassland management and forage conservation, with particular reference to UK conditions. Through a series of integrated lectures, practicals and visits, students will be introduced to underpinning concepts of grassland management and principles and examples of best practice. Further, the module will also focus on digestion in the horse and the most recent advances in understanding digestive function. Students will also evaluate a range of dietary ingredients in a laboratory environment and use the information obtained to formulate rations for horse susceptible to digestive disorders.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | The assignments will require some manipulation of numbers, and this will be assessed in the assignment. Feedback on this will be given in the assignment. |
| Communication | Students will be expected to be able to express themselves appropriately in all assessments. Feedback will be given in the assignments. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Outside the formal contact hours, students will be expected to research materials, manage time and meet deadlines for the assignment and exam. |
| Information Technology | Students will be required to source information from a variety of scientific publication databases. The use of various software packages will be required for the correct presentation of the assignments. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Students will gain confidence in their ability to evaluate feeds, rations and grassland management though the module. The structure of the associated industries and its supporting research infrastructure will be implicit in the module, revealing some potential career destinations to students. |
| Problem solving | The pasture improvement assignment will be based on a 'real life' scenario with numerous questions and challenges posed. Students will also be required to evaluate dietary ingredients based on laboratory analysis and use this information to formulate practical rations. Feedback will be given in the assignments. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to source and summarize a substantial amount of information without staff direction in order to complete the assessments. Feedback will be given in the assignments. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The underlying principles of grassland management, rationing and avoiding digestive problems in horses will be central to the module. |
| Team work | Students will work in teams in the laboratory. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6