AGRI C4F03 - Animal product quality

Module Title:Animal product quality
Language of Instruction:English
Credits: 5
NFQ Level:8
Module Delivered In 2 programme(s)
Teaching & Learning Strategies: Formal lectures will be complemented by practical field sessions and site visits to food producers in the South East. This will allow for a balance of theory and hands on learning activities and expose the student to the strategies used in food processing facilities to ensure that a quality product can be delivered to the consumer. Classroom activities will focus on the main animal enterprises in Irish agriculture with an emphasis of new and emerging factors that may enhance either the quality of the animal product or it’s marketability or both. Visiting lecturers will be used where appropriate to enhance the learning experience of the students and expose them to new concepts in animal production.
Module Aim: The module will focus on how animal product quality can be optimised through good management principals. Focusing mainly on the quality of animal produce, the module will be consumer focused and cover strategies to produce animals in the most sustainable manner possible. The module will examine relevant examples of how the quality of the animal product can be manipulated both at farm level and processor level to meet the requirements of the consumer. There will also be a focus on nutritional enhancement of the animals diet to produce product that is more nutrient dense.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate how quality animal products that meet market specification can maximise the return from the market place
LO2 Understand how the management of the animal may enhance it's nutritional characteristics and/ or sensory characteristics
LO3 Be capable of providing on farm advice to farmers on how they can meet the animal quality specifications and quality assurance schemes that are required
LO4 Understand the role of nutritional enhanced animal products and their benefits for the consumer
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.

No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Animal Product Quality
Animal product quality needs to be consumer led. Ensuring that the meat and dairy products are optimised for human consumption is essential in the sustainability of the system. The end user approach is essential here; what are the carcass traits desired by the consumer? what is the main dairy product being produced from milk? Starting at the consumer end, this module will work backwards to demonstrate how these criteria can be met at farm level.
Quality Assurance
Various examples of Bord Bia's quality assurance schemes will be used to demonstrate how they are implemented at farm and processor level and give the student an insight into the rationale for their development.
Nutritional Enhancement of Animal Product
The student will learn about the most recent examples of how animal products can be enhanced to improve the nutrition of those consuming them. Content will be derived from published papers as well as commercial examples of nutritional enhancement e.g. omega enriched chicken.
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment50.00%
End of Module Formal Examination50.00%
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Written Report Students are to complete a written report on a concept delivered in a lecture. The report must summarise the findings in a farmer facing format. 1,2,3,4 10.00 n/a
Practical/Skills Evaluation Students must complete a quality assurance assessment of a livestock farm. 3 10.00 n/a
Practical/Skills Evaluation Students are to complete an assessment of the clean livestock policy / dairy hygiene policy on farm and offer farmers advice where necessary 1,3 10.00 n/a
Reflective Journal Students are to complete a report on a site visit to a food processor summarising their main learnings. 1,2,4 10.00 n/a
Reflective Journal Students are to complete a report on a site visit to a food processor summarising their main learnings. 1,2,4 10.00 n/a
No Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Formal Exam Terminal Exam 1,2,3,4 50.00 End-of-Semester

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 12 Weeks per Stage 2.00
Practicals 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Independent Learning Time 12 Weeks per Stage 3.00
Total Hours 72.00
 

Module Delivered In

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CW_EFARG_B Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Agricultural Systems Engineering 8 Elective
CW_SWSFM_B Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness 8 Elective