Course coordinator
Dr Anne Beasley
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
This course will be last offered in external mode in 2026.
The maintenance of the health & productivity of individual animals, herds & flocks from a knowledge of disease pathogenesis, hygiene & the environmental factors affecting disease outbreaks. Evidence of immunity to Q fever is mandatory for the In Person offering of course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
This course explores the principles and practices essential for maintaining health and productivity in individual animals and collective populations. The curriculum encompasses evidence-based approaches to understanding disease occurrence, prevention, and management. Core topics include fundamental epidemiological concepts and their practical application to animal health challenges, investigation methodologies for disease outbreaks, risk assessment frameworks, and implementation strategies for effective disease control.
The course covers major health threats affecting livestock and horses, including exotic diseases, internal and external parasitism, heritable and congenital disorders, and metabolic conditions. Additional focus areas include herd health management programs, preventative medicine approaches such as vaccination protocols, and toxicological hazards in animal production systems. The curriculum also addresses zoonotic diseases and their public health implications, highlighting the interconnected nature of modern animal health management in agricultural and veterinary settings.
This course has mandatory immunisation requirements due to an increased risk of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) for students working with animals or in agricultural environments. Students will be asked to provide evidence of immunity to Q fever via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
At the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge-sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold students and staff accountable for actively contributing to establishing a respectful and supportive learning environment.
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and againstﾠUQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are expected to know the basics of normal animal behaviour, and structure and function of the animals they are focused on.ﾠ
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
AGRC2013
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
VETS3000
Restrictions
In Person offering restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements.
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
- Another instance of the same course
This course shares content with ANIM3006 External, with activities and assessment that may vary (Online modules for External) to suit the mode and campus of study.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Lex Turner
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The lecture/practical timetable will be made available on the Blackboard site for this course in week 1, and will be discussed during the first lecture. All updates to the timetable will be made on Blackboard and students will be notified via Blackboard announcement. Students should check Blackboard regularly.
All lectures, practical sessions and learning activities will be delivered in person, on campus.
All timetabled practicals from Week 3 have been identified as high-risk activities for Q-fever exposure.
If you have any concerns regarding your official timetable or course allocations, or there are no suitable class times available, contact Faculty of Science Timetable science.mytimetable@uq.edu.au for advice.
If you have any questions about missing class activities, please contact your course coordinator.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to improve animal health and thus minimise the impact of diseases on the productivity and welfare of domestic animals and wildlife.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-Semester Exam
|
35% |
12/09/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Herd Health Disease Prevention Program
|
30% |
7/10/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
35% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
In-Semester Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
12/09/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
This in-semester exam will be held during the lecture time slot of week 7. You will be tested on both the theory (lecture) content taught up to and including week 6, AND the practical content covered in Practical 1 (clinical examination) and Practical 2 (post-mortem examination).
The exam is worth 35% of your final grade.
The exam will include 10 minutes perusal time and 100 minutes working time.
The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in In Person delivery must attend the exam in-person.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional course grading information – ‘Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles’.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 100 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Herd Health Disease Prevention Program
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
7/10/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
You will develop a herd health disease prevention program for an animal unit and disease problem of your choice. This assignment is designed to give a real ‘advisor’ experience and as such, it should demonstrate your understanding of the epidemiology of a disease or health problem.
Examples of suitable animal units or enterprises include:
- A farm
- An animal care facility
- UQ livestock herd (pigs, horse, dairy, sheep, goats, chickens)
- A zoo population
- Experimental group of animals in a research establishment (eg primates, rats).
- Wildlife sanctuary
- Cat and dog kennels
As part of your program you will need to consider how animal groups, and individuals within the group are treated, so it is not advised to select a scenario involving limited numbers of animals or animals that are difficult to monitor.
The chosen disease must be a realistic animal health problem or potential problem. Examples might include a parasite problem, mastitis in a dairy herd, or perhaps a group syndrome such as ‘skin problems’ in a wildlife refuge. There are many health problems that are worthy of choosing for this assignment. If you are looking for inspiration, you may even contact a real animal enterprise to identify a suitable disease to report on (this is not a requirement, however).
Suggested Length: 2,000 words (not including references), plus a one page summary sheet to be submitted via Turnitin.
You will need to post your chosen topic on Blackboard (date to be advised on course Blackboard site) to ensure that each student has a unique topic.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
The use of AI or MT must be acknowledged appropriately. Please see assessment guidelines in blackboard coursesite for specific instructions.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy (https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=149) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard, in accordance with the University's Assessment Procedure (located in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile) which outlines the requirements for requesting extensions to assessment due dates. Extensions require the correct evidence/documentation to support the requested length of time of the extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Final Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
Task description
The final exam will be a closed book written exam. Content assessed in the exam includes lecture content from week 6, and content from Practical session 3 (external parasites) and Practical session 4 (internal parasites).
The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in In Person delivery must attend the exam in person.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional course grading information – ‘Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles’.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0% - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35% - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% OR failure to meet the identified assessment hurdle below. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles
- Students must obtain a passing mark in the combined cumulative result for In-Semester and End-of-Semester Examinations in order to pass the course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and examinations and the student does NOT score a pass mark in the combined cumulative result for the in-semester andﾠend-of-semester examinations, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.
TurnItInﾠ
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠ
Release of marks
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved,ﾠevery attempt will be made to haveﾠthe results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ
Feedback
Informal feedback will be welcome via the Blackboard discussion board.
Formal feedback will be by official questionnaire at the end of the course.
Re-mark Applications - refer to the University's Re-mark Policyﾠto check your eligibility
Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:
- You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
- Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
- Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.ﾠ
Course Communication
STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO USE THE COURSE BLACKBOARD SITE FOR COMMUNICATION IN THIS COURSE.
You can ‘log on’ to the site via your ‘my uq’ site. Go toﾠwww.my.uq.edu.auﾠand ‘log in’ using your username and password.ﾠYou will find a link to the Blackboard site in the menu on the right-hand side of the page. Anyone having access problems should contact the University’s AskIT staff on (07) 3365 8811 or help@askit.uq.edu.au or consult the Blackboard ‘Help’ link.
Blackboard will contain digital copies of the learning modules as well as lecture notes.
There will also be a discussion board for assignments and frequently asked questions (and hopefully answers).
You are expected to check the Blackboard website at least once a week during the semester.
You will find it much easier if you have a computer at home, but if internet access at home is slow or unavailable, you may have to make other arrangements. You are welcome to visit the library and use the facilities whenever you can. The library staff are more than willing to assist you.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| ANIM3006 Course Blackboard site | Blackboard is the main method of communication for this course. | |
| ANIM3006 Course Profile | Provides details of specifications, rationale, aims and structure of the course. It also informs you of the assessment for this course, including weighting and due dates. | |
| PPE | For practicals taking place in a laboratory, students will need a lab coat, appropriate closed in shoes and long hair tied back. For the Dairy clinical exam practical, students will need to wear long pants (e.g. jeans, NOT active wear), sun smart shirt, hat and boots that are able to be scrubbed with disinfectant upon entry to the facility. | own item needed |
Additional learning resources information
All necessary learning materials may be found on the Blackboard website, or will be provided as handouts.
From time to time, changes occur in Animal Health and Epidemiology (eg an outbreak of Avian Influenza). Students are expected to monitor the news and take note of important events concerning changesﾠimpacting on the health and welfare of Australian livestock and wildlife.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
LECTURES Two lectures per week to cover the course material. Please refer to the lecture timetable on the Blackboard site for precise detail of lecture series. Topics covered include: Introduction to epidemiology, zoonoses, herd health, exotic diseases, external parasites of livestock, internal parasites of livestock, toxicology, metabolic diseases, vaccines and heritable diseases. |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Tutorial |
LA 1: Clinical signs and causal webs Students practice objective observation and documentation of clinical signs in animals through video analysis. They also examine causal webs for specific conditions (e.g. capture myopathy), categorising risk factors and identifying effective intervention points. |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Practical |
Prac 1: Clinical examination of animals Students will participate in a comprehensive clinical examination of a dairy cow, developing skills to distinguish between normal and abnormal findings. The session includes a guided farm walk to evaluate facility design and management practices, with discussion focusing on how these environmental factors influence animal health outcomes and disease prevention in dairy production systems. |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Tutorial |
LA 2: Zoonotic and exotic diseases Students examine video content on significant zoonotic and exotic diseases, documenting key characteristics including transmission patterns, clinical signs, and prevention measures. Through structured worksheets and group discussion, students evaluate disease risks, potential entry pathways, and control strategies with particular focus on Australian biosecurity implications. |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Practical |
Prac 2: Post mortem examination Students first observe a demonstration post-mortem examination, then perform their own necropsy on provided specimens under supervision. This hands-on experience develops technical skills in systematic examination while emphasising identification of primary pathologies, concurrent conditions, and underlying disease processes that contribute to morbidity or mortality. |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Tutorial |
LA 3: External Parasites Students will examine images and identify common external parasites affecting livestock and companion animals including ticks, fleas, mites, and flies. The activity emphasises distinguishing key anatomical features and developmental stages of parasites. Students also explore the selection and interpretation of parasite control product labels and safety data sheets based on specific animal health scenarios. |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Practical |
Prac 3: External parasites Students will examine specimens of external parasites impacting domestic livestock and wildlife hosts. |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Tutorial |
LA 4: Internal parasites & resistance Students will undertake activities related to parasite diagnostics including the detection of parasite eggs in faeces and identification of snail intermediate hosts and will explore chemical resistance in parasites. |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Practical |
Prac 4: Internal parasites Students will observe internal parasite specimens that impact domestic livestock hosts. |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Practical |
Prac 5: Toxicology & Poisonous Plants In this practical session students will look at a variety of plant species that are toxic to livestock and consider the distinguishing features, as well as the principle clinical and physiological changes induced by the particular toxin. |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Practical |
Prac 6: Wildlife post-mortem Practical This practical session is for interest and is not examinable. Students will have the opportunity to carry out a post-mortem examination on a variety of wildlife specimens (as per practical 2). |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Tutorial |
Exam revision Dr. Turner will provide some general advice and guidelines for preparing for the final examination. Students are encouraged to attend and ask questions on any content they are unsure of. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
Course guidelines
Student immunisation requirements
The University policy Vaccination and Immunisation (Vaccinations and Immunisation Guideline / Document / Policy and Procedure Library) provides information about immunisation and screening requirements related to programs and courses. Failure to comply with student immunisation requirements can lead to an increased risk of serious illness occurring. Therefore, non-compliance will result in the relevant course/s being dropped from your enrolment under Section 3 of the Enrolment policy (Enrolment Procedure / Document / Policy and Procedure Library).