Undergraduate Course: Animal Life & Food Safety 1 (BVMS08061)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This is an introductory course, in the husbandry of farm and companion animals, animal welfare, veterinary public health, and food safety. The course comprises of the following sections:
Animal Husbandry of common domestic species
Basic principles of behaviour and welfare of domesticated animals
Handling and restraint of domesticated animals
Veterinary Public Health (VPH), including food safety and an introduction to zoonoses
Animal Breeding and Genetics
The course consists of lectures, tutorials and practical classes.
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| Course description |
Course Objectives and Aims:
To describe the husbandry and management of the main farm and companion animals in the UK and describe the relationships between management, environment, behaviour, health, welfare, productivity, food quality and food safety.
To provide veterinary students with sufficient understanding of animal husbandry (a) to maintain and improve the health and welfare of farm and companion animals; (b) to contribute to the productivity, economic performance, and ecological perspectives of the livestock and food industry, and (c) to ensure that food producing and companion animals contribute to the social requirements and health of humans
To train students to handle animals competently and safely
To train students in the issues of veterinary public health including zoonoses, and the roles of the veterinary surgeon in public health
To provide a foundation for clinical teaching within the veterinary curriculum
To encourage professional development and communication skills
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must be enrolled on a BVMS Veterinary Medicine degree programme in order to take this course. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 39,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 26,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4,
Summative Assessment Hours 6,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Placement Study Abroad Hours 200,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
115 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 80%
Coursework 20%
Practical Exam Pass/Fail
Biosecurity Assessment: There will be a Practical Biosecurity Assessment which must be passed to allow participation in farm practical classes. This will comprise as assessment of Hand-washing and protective gear washing and disinfection.
The examination will consist of Section A: two in-course Multiple Choice Question Assessments and an End of Course written Examination and Section B: 4 x designated animal group Practical Examinations (pass/fail).
Section A
1. In Course Assessment (10% of final mark)
At the start of Semester 2 there will be a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Assessment of the course to date (Semester 1 lectures and practical classes).
2. In Course Assessment (10% of final mark)
During Semester 2 there will be a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Assessment of the course to date (primarily based on practical classes but will include lecture material).
3.The End-of-Course Written Examination (80% of final mark)
This examination is a combination of written (short answer questions (SAQ)) and multiple choice questions covering all material from the course. All lecture and practical material is examinable. A total of 120 marks are available - with the SAQ worth up to 10 marks each and the MCQs each worth 1 mark.
Section B
The Practical Examination (Pass/Fail)
Each student will be formally assessed in
Part A - Minimum requirements for attending animal husbandry extramural studies (AHEMS) placements.
Part B: Demonstrates basic practical skills and competencies
Part A and B must both be passed in the same attempt to achieve an overall pass for each designated animal group practical examination
The designated animal groups are as follows:-
(a) Cattle
(b) Sheep
(c) Horses
(d) Cats and dogs
A pass must be achieved in all animal groups shown above. Anyone failing in an animal group will be required to be re-examined in that section. A pass in any section will be retained. A second attempt will be made in Semester 1 (for (d)) or Semester 2 (for (a),(b),(c)). Students who fail the practical examination will be re-examined by an Internal Examiner in the presence of a second Internal Examiner or the External Examiner at the May diet of re-sit practical exams.
These practical exams are Pass / Fail only
PASS/FAIL
To pass the ALFS 1 course, students must:
- achieve 50% or more of the total marks for the combined In-course Assessments and the End-of-course written Examination (Section A)
- Pass all 4 Practical Assessments (Section B)
- 100% attendance in all practical and tutorial classes
Passing ALFS 1 course is a progression requirement
Failure at first sitting of the End-of-Course written Examination will be followed by an August resit.
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| Feedback |
In Course Assessment feedback session.
An opportunity to review the Practical Handling Exam Assessment sheet. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Outwith Standard Exam Diets May | Animal Life & Food Safety 1 | 30 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Animal Life & Food Safety 1 | 30 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the basic principles of animal husbandry and welfare in common domestic species
- Independently handle common domestic species in a safe and appropriate manner
- Outline important aspects of the livestock industry and pet ownership
- Describe role of veterinary surgeons in veterinary public health
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Angus Cassie
Tel:
Email: acassie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Newcombe
Tel: (0131 6)50 6106
Email: Andrew.Newcombe@ed.ac.uk |
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