AGRICULTURE

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

BI 25A4

Overview

The application of scientific principals to the economically efficient production of meat and milk will be explored through two farm case studies augmented with information gained from computer aided learning packages, rationing software and lectures. Emphasis will be placed on the effect of nutrition, environment and physiology on the production of milk, meat and replacement stock in commercial pig, beef and dairy enterprises.

Structure

6 week course - 3 two hour lectures per week, two hours of group work per week, two field trips, two practicals sessions. Each student will contribute to 2 seminar presentations during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and 2 case studies (20%) each).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and 2 case studies (20%) each).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

This course requires that students undertake a period of work experience of 15 weeks at approved establishments. The experience may be gained at any time prior to entering fourth year. A report on a six-week period of such work must be submitted by the end of third year and forms the basis of the assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment based on report on six-week period of work placement (100%).

Resit: In-course assessment based on report on six-week period of work placement (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Price

Pre-requisites

An appropriate level 2 Biology course. Other students may be admitted with permission of Head of School.

Overview

Introduction - Methods of plant breeding and their genetic basis, potential and limitations - contribution to crop yield, quality improvements; Breeding objectives - schemes and systems, crop evaluation and evolution; new technologies and genome mapping, gene sequences, arrays and mutations. Biotechnology and its application to Agriculture; Vector systems in plants - Ti plasmid; Modification of Ti - plasmid for expression of foreign genes; GM crops and specific targets in crop plants - cereal crops, photosynthesis; Plant Cell Culture - secondary metabolites. Generating new varations - somaclonal and protoplast culture, fusion; Improving Biological Nitrogen fixation; Biocontrol - Crop Production and Protection; GEMs, GM crops-release and risk assessment.

A Practical to provide experiance in genome sequence database analysis will be carried out and a practical report must be submitted and will count as in-course assessment.

Structure

1 two-hour written examination 6 week course – no more than 8 hours of teaching per week, Slots B and C. Weeks 18-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Written Paper (75%), in-course assessment: essay, seminar presentation and practical (25%).

Resit: Written Paper (75%), in-course assessment: essay, seminar presentation and practical (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

LM 2503 or BI 25A4

Overview

An examination of the effects of principal components of crop production systems on the yield and quality of crops in the UK. The management of selected crops taking account of marketing.

Structure

6 week course - 6 hours of lectures per week. Slots A + E, weeks 18-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%): in-course essay (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%): in-course essay (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mrs C Brown

Pre-requisites

BI 20A1, BI 20Z1 or BI 2504

Overview

This course relates the physiology, development and nutrition of domestic animals to animal husbandry and care. It describes how this knowledge can be used to improve the management and welfare of domestic animals in the production and recreational environment.

Structure

6 hours of lectures per week. Slots E and F. Weeks 36-37, 41-44.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and one 3000 word essay (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and one 3000 word essay (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 1502 or BI 15A2 or permission of Head of Department.

Overview

Management strategy; business documents and financial recording and Principles of accounts, including Budget Builder, a computer assisted learning package; statements of accounts; interpretation of accounts; accounts, taxation, grants and financial decisions; Business structure and establishment.

Structure

12 week course - A total of 5 hours per week comprising lectures or practical classes.

To pass this course a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Rsit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S Woodward

Pre-requisites

BI 25P1, BI 1508 or BI 2505 or appropriate Level 2 Biology. Other students may be admitted to the course at the discretion of the Head of School.

Overview

This course will begin with an Introduction to Plant Pathology (causes/symptoms of disease; pathogens and pathogenesis, historical background, significance and impact of disease; pathogen structure and function, spread and survival). It will then discuss the following topics: Molecular methods in plant pathology (application of molecular techniques to detect and understand the biology of plant pathogens in managed ecosystems, the advantages and limitations of the methods); Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions (Plant stresses and disease susceptibility; host-pathogen interactions in managed ecosystems); Plant defence mechanisms and disease control (Resistance Genes; Plant defence mechanisms including induced resistance, Nematode disease control; Microbial biocontrol; Biological crop protection for control of insect pests; General principals of crop management); Potato Pathogens: Understanding their interactions. The final week of the course will consist of lectures from specialists who work at the research and farmer level (both in-house and with visiting speakers) on the wide array of potato diseases to provide in-depth information nd concomitantly show how a broad understanding of the host, the pathogen/pest and their environments is required in order to control disease.

Structure

6 week course: 6 one-hour lectures per week, 2-3 hours from Visiting Speakers, 3 tutorials per course in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 2003 / BI 20A3 or LM 2503 / BI 25A4.

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 4.

Overview

A series of practical field case studies, seminars, computer laboratory practicals and supporting lectures cover farm business analysis and the use of farm management techniques including the use of appropriate computer software.

Structure

12 week course - 24 lectures, 3 two-hour seminars, 12 one-hour tutorials, 2 field visits, each one afternoon. Slot D. Weeks 12-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (50%), assessment of case studies (50%).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 2003 / BI 20A3 or LM 2503 / BI 25A4.

Co-requisites

AG 4504

Overview

A series of practical field case studies, seminars, computer laboratory practicals and supporting lectures cover farm business analysis and the use of farm management techniques including the use of appropriate computer software.

Structure

12 week course - 24 lectures, 3 two-hour seminars, 12 one-hour tutorials, 2 field visits, each one afternoon. Slot D. Weeks 12-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (33.3%), 3 case studies (33.3%) and final case study (33.3%). Assessed jointly with AG 4504.

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

To be confirmed

Pre-requisites

BI 3007 and acceptance for Honours in Agriculture or a related discipline.

Overview

The course will provide an opportunity for an in-depth study of a specific problem.

Structure

Individual supervision will vary depending on the project.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (67%), project proposal (11%), poster (11%) and seminar (11%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

Acceptance for Honours in a Degree Programme administered by Agriculture & Forestry and permission of the Head of School.

Overview

The course will consist of individually tailored, directed study on topics of relevance to the appropriate degree programme and leading to the presentation of a seminar and preparation of a dissertation. Students will have a tutor who will act in an advisor role. There are no face to face lectures.

Structure

12 hours staff contact time in whole course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (80%) and seminar (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

AG 3027 or ZO 3007

Overview

This course covers the management systems involved in the care of animals during growth, development and ageing. Particular emphasis will be placed on the impact of housing and environmental conditions on the animal’s health, welfare and performance.

Structure

6 week course – 2 one-hour lectures per week and 4 two-hour seminars to the entire class. 6 two-hour tutorials and 2 two-hour seminars presented by groups on their case study. Slots A and E, weeks 18-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and 2 case studies (20% each).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Hovell

Pre-requisites

BI 15A1 or BI 20Z1 or BI 25M1

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 4.

Overview

The course will examine the physiology and biochemistry of growth, development, lactation and ageing of a range of mammalian species. Particular emphasis will be placed on the biochemistry and physiology of muscle, adipose tissue, liver and the mammary gland in relation to factors controlling animal viability and performance.

Structure

6 week course - 6 one-hour lectures per week, 3 one-hour seminars every 1 to 2 weeks, 3 one-hour tutorials every 1 to 2 weeks. Slots B and C. Weeks 18-23.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination paper (75%), in-course assessment: essays (25%).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I E Edwards

Pre-requisites

LM 2003 or LM 2503 or BI 25A4

Co-requisites

AG 4007

Overview

A series of advanced case studies develops further the skills learned in AG 4007. Lectures, and guest lectures deal with the role of the adviser and consultant in farm business management and decision making, the process of extension work in both developed and developing countries.

Structure

12 week course - 2 two-hour seminars and 27 lectures in total. 3 afternoons of field visits. Slot F. Weeks 30-37, 41-44.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Assessed jointly with AG 4007. 1 two-hour examination (33.3%), 5 case studies (33.3%) and final case study (33.3%).

Resit (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Hovell

Pre-requisites

LM 2503

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 4.

Overview

Recent advances in the sciences basic to animal production will be emphasised and diverse subject areas such as genetics, environment, nutrition, health and welfare will be integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of animal production. This course includes seminars on world animal production.

Structure

12 week course - 25 two-hour seminars plus a 2-day visit to Edinburgh.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (80%) and in-course assessment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr T Stuchbury

Pre-requisites

Acceptance for Honours in a Degree Programme administered by Agriculture & Forestry and permission of the Head of School.

Overview

The course will consist of individually tailored, directed study on topics of relevance to the appropriate degree programme and leading to the presentation of a seminar and preparation of a dissertation. Students will have a tutor who will act in an advisor role. There are no face to face lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (80%) and seminar (20%).