Faculty of Science and Agriculture

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production

MODULE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL SCIENCE

SANB021

FIRST SEMESTER

YEAR: 2025
 MODULE OUTLINE

Module Title INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL SCIENCE

Module Code SANB021 No. of 12 Credits

Credits
Department Agricultural Economics and Animal School Agricultural and
Production Environmental Sciences
Pre-requisites Module NONE Co- N/A
Code requisites
Module
Code
Module Lecturers Dr KR Nemutandani, Mr K Mokoena & Ms KM Molabe

Module Reviewer Dr TC Manyelo

Office Address F-Block Office no. 0006 and F-Block Office

no. -1001A Basement
Email [email protected] Telephone 015 268 2376
No.
.za

[email protected]

[email protected]

Consultation Time Anytime when the lecturers are in Lecture

the office or by making an Periods 4 lectures per
appointment. week
Important Dates Tests dates Learning 180 min per
3 Hours week
Tests 1 – TBC

Tests 2 – TBC

Semester 1st Semester

2025 Academic Year
Module Structure The course consists of interactive
lecturers, assignments, and practicals.

Assessment Method Description Weighting

Formative assessment:
Average of 2 Tests 60%
Average of 2 20%
Assignments Average of 20%
10 Practicals
Tests
Practicals
 Assignments Total formative assessment 100%
mark

Summative assessment (examination): At the end of the semester, the student who gets more than 40% in
the formative assessment will be allowed to sit for the summative assessment, which will be marked
out of 100%.

Final semester mark: 60% of formative assessment mark + 40% of summative assessment mark.
MODULE DESCRIPTION

The module introduces animal science with special emphasis on production and management of the
various livestock classes domesticated by man to meet his needs of food, fibre and work. Topics
covered include livestock breeds, their origin and environmental adaptation, physiology, water
quality, nutrition, and the handling techniques of animals by the farmer. The various animal
production systems available in South Africa are briefly outlined and biological principles
underlying production efficiency in tropical and subtropical countries are noted.

MODULE OBJECTIVES
To teach students about Animal Science and its importance to the development of mankind,
domestication of animals to livestock. To give an overview of the distribution of livestock worldwide,
describe the value of animal products in providing food and explain the process of adaptation. Identify
the broad types of agricultural production systems. Compare and contrast the livestock production
industries of developed and developing countries, define nutrition and know what nutrients are and
their general uses.

MODULE CONTENT

Introduction to animal production, farm animal breeds and historical domestication and the
importance of livestock. Handling of farm animals, principles of environmental adaptation, water
quality for livestock and animal production systems. Biological principles underlying production
efficiency in tropical and subtropical countries.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Demonstrate a foundational understanding of key concepts in animal science.

 Be able to identify and differentiate between common livestock and poultry species.
 Knowing the historical domestication and importance of livestock.
 Demonstrating the understanding on water quality for livestock and animal production system.
 Showing proper skills in handling, restraining and management of livestock.
 Demonstrating knowledge on principles of environmental adaptation and biological
principles underlying production efficiency in tropical and subtropical countries.
 ASSESMENT CRITERIA

 Identify the different livestock breeds of economic importance in South Africa.

 Identify the different animal production industries and their importance.
 Clarify the biological principles underlying domestication of animals in the development of
the various livestock types.
 Distinguish the different animal breeds, production systems and environmental
adaptation mechanisms.

REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR THE MODULE

a. Prescribed Textbooks

 Maree, C. and Casey, N.H. 1993. Introduction to animal Agriculture. Russel and Patterson.

 Damron, W.S. 2008. Introduction to Animal Science. 4th Edition, Prentice Hall.

There are no prescribed textbooks for this module. Students will be supplied with notes on the
different sections. These notes will be made available on Black Board.

STUDENT FEEDBACK ON MODULE

Unless otherwise agreed to between the class and the lecturer (s), feedback on assessments will be
given within 7 working days from the assessment date and this will be done by way of going over the
assessment in class and provision of model answers (where applicable) to the class representative and/or on
blackboard.

STUDENT GRIEVANCES
Students should communicate all grievances and/or requests to the lecturer through their class
representative. Should these fail to be resolved, then they can be taken to the Head of
Department. Grievances related to test marks must be made to the lecturer concerned within 7
days from the date of return of scripts.

MODULE POLICY

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, as described in the student Code of Conduct and the University’s Plagiarism Policy, is
considered to be assessment fraud. Copying of text from other students or from any other sources
(including the study guide and student notes) is not allowed. Brief quotations are allowed if it is
indicated as such. You should reformulate existing text and use your own words to explain what you
have read. It is not acceptable to retype existing text and just acknowledge the source. Thus, you have
to relate an idea or concept, without repeating the original author word for word – use your own
words. Where plagiarism is suspected, Rules G17.2 and G17.3 shall also apply.

Absence from lectures:

Students are expected to attend all lectures. To be admitted to the standard summative assessment,
a student must have evidence of class attendance of 75% as a minimum requirement in planned
formal contact sessions as
determined by Faculty Rules, subject to Rule G8.3.3.

Absence from assessment:

A student is only allowed to apply for an aegrotat if he/she is in possession of a valid exemption
document as described in rule G15 in the General Rules of the University of Limpopo. This evidence
has to be handed to the module coordinator within 7 days after the assessment has taken place. The
only exception to this rule is if the student is still in hospital at the given time, in this case the
medical certificate should be handed in as soon as possible.

Applications for aegrotats for examination papers should be submitted to the office of the Director of
the School within 7 days after the examination paper was written. The office of the Director will
inform the relevant Department
about the aegrotat approval and schedule. Aegrotats for the main examination will be the
same as the supplementary examination.
ADDITIONAL MODULE INFORMATION

NB. Students should be aware that a subminimum of 40% is required in the summative (or
supplementary) examination in order to obtain a pass for a final mark. (Refer to rules G13 and G14 of
the General Rules of the University of Limpopo.) Therefore, if a student enters the exam with a high
module mark but doesn’t manage to obtain 40% in the summative (or supplementary) examination,
it is entirely possible for that student to obtain a 50% final mark, but still fail the module!

ASSESSMENT DATES FOR THEORETICAL WORK

SCHEDULE CONTENT FOR PRACTICAL WORK

Practical reports will be used as a means of assessing competencies in practical sessions. All practical
reports are
due on or before 7 days after the practical work (unless stated otherwise) was conducted and the
report must be written using the prescribed format.

ASSIGNMENT TOPICS AND THEIR DUE DATES

Two assignments will be given and must be done in a period of 10 days. Each assignment report will
be assessed
out of 100%. Assignments should be 5 pages and should be typed on Arial font, size 12, spacing
2.ppt, justified.
Assignment Topic Due date
1 Briefly discuss the following: TBC

 The history of all domesticated animals

 The use of animals and their benefits to human beings

2 Discuss the factors that influence water requirements for TBC

ruminant animals in semi-arid tropics
Type of assessment Scope Date
Test 1 Chapters 1-4 TBC
Test 2 Chapters 5-9 TBC
Summative assessment Emphasis will be on integration of principles in all chapters.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF LECTURES

Topic Details Week

1 Introduction to animal
Practical Practical Lab  Introduction to animal science terminologies such
Week no. 1
science as (breeds, cow, bull, heifer, doe, buck etc.) and
1 Identification of farm animal breeds 2
brunches of animal science.
2 Handling facilities (Dehorning & castration in Small stock and 3
Large
2 Farm Animal Breeds
stock)  Examples of farm animal breeds (cattle, goats, 2
3 sheep,clipping
Handling facilities (Teeth pigs, andandpoultry) their origin
ear notching and
in pigs) 4
characteristics.
4 Handling facilities (Hot and cold branding, tattooing) 5
3 Historical Domestication 3
5 Tail docking in lambs and pigletsof ruminants and non-ruminants 6
domestication and and their use, and benefits to mankind.
the 6importanceDipping
of & deworming of farm animals 7
livestock
7 Beak trimming and sexing in chickens 8
4 Handling of farm  Different livestock handling facilities, reasons for 4-5
8
animals Water quality (pollutants and improvement of water 9
handling
quality/ water treatment)
farm animals. Basic guidelines for handling farm
19 Artificial insemination in Dairy
animals. Farmand beefoperations
animal cattle such as 10
10 (dehorning,
Artificial insemination in pigs andcastration,
chickensidentification, tail docking, 11
ear notching AI etc.)
5 Principles of  Ways of adaptation (Morphological and 6
environmental behavioral).
adaptation Adaptation to heat, morphology, and type-specific
 characteristics.
6 Water quality for  Factors influencing water requirements in 7
livestock animals. An
approximate guide for water requirement
for ruminant animals in semi-arid tropics
 The degree of salinity of available

water dependents

7 Animal production  Different industries available in South Africa 8

industries and their operations.

8 Animal production  Extensive livestock production system (low input): 9-10

system advantages and disadvantages.
 Intensive livestock production system (high
input): advantages and disadvantages.
9 Biological principles  Survival versus production and human 11
underlying production preferences and
efficiency in tropical and expectations
subtropical countries
10 Revision  All chapters 12