Course coordinator
Dr Andres Gambini
Contact by email or during lectures/practicals.�
Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
This course provides the underpinning science of reproduction in the horse and its application to the equine breeding industry. Anatomy, physiology, endocrinology and reproductive behaviour in the mare and stallion are discussed. Students gain extensive experience in reproductive management of the mare. Causes of reproductive wastage including infertility, embryonic and fetal loss and foaling difficulties and neonatal disease are covered. The theory and practice of ultrasonography are presented. Assisted reproductive technologies are taught and students gain experience in areas such as semen collection and evaluation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Stud farm management is also discussed.
Evidence of immunity to Q fever and vaccination against tetanus is mandatory for the In Person offering of this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
This course covers the theoretical and practical principles involved with the science and management of:
- breeding horses including mare and stallion reproduction, mating, foaling and artificial reproduction technologies;
- associated equine facilities including stallion accommodation, breeding sheds/yards, foaling paddocks/stables, weaning & handling facilities.
There is extensive hands-on work with mares, foals, breeding and breeding evaluation of stallions outside of the scheduled contact hours.
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 and vaccination against tetanus via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have basic animal handling skills and experience with equine behaviour.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ANIM2039 (co-taught)
Restrictions
In person offering restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Andres Gambini
Guest lecturer
Dr Danielle Fitzgerald
Tutorial coordinator
Mr Mitchell Coyle
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
There is extensive hands-on work with mares, foals, breeding, and breeding evaluation of stallionsﾠOUTSIDE of the scheduled contact hours.
This course consists of lectures (online, self-directed), and compulsory practical sessions (on campus).ﾠNo live zoom sessions unless otherwise announced in BB. A detailed timetableﾠwill be published on the course Blackboard site, including dates, times, and locations.ﾠ
Practicalﾠgroup lists will beﾠconfirmed on Blackboard - so please stay up to date with the information posted.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with the underpinning knowledge and practical principles for the successful management of breeding horses.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Develop industry-relevant core skills and demonstrate the safe handling and management of stallions, mares and foals in various situations relating to the stud farm environment.
LO2.
Evaluate reproductive records and reflect on foaling outcomes to identify issues relevant to successful breeding results.
LO3.
Analyse physical and behavioural signs for proper breeding management of stallions, mares and foals.
LO4.
Critically analyze and understand the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the context of horse breeding, considering the scientific principles, ethical considerations, and practical implications.
LO5.
Resolve real-world scenarios using horse breeding principles and practices, while fostering scientific critical thinking skills and the ability to interpret and apply new advancements in the field.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-semester Examination
|
30% |
12/09/2024
Complete and submit the exam during the scheduled 9:00am-12:00pm session. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Reflection |
Mare and Foal Care Assignment
|
20% |
18/10/2024 4:30 pm |
| Presentation |
Journal Article Presentation
|
20% |
18/10/2024 4:30 pm |
| Examination |
Final Examination
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
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 Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
12/09/2024
Complete and submit the exam during the scheduled 9:00am-12:00pm session.
Task description
All lectures and practical activities delivered before the exam will be assessed.
The exam will be online as a Blackboard test invigilated in-person, on campus. Have your UQ student ID card available for all of your exams.
Type of questions includes: MCQ, short answer, short essay, and/or problem-solving.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and 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 | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Learn.UQ |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Please check Blackboard instructions.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Mare and Foal Care Assignment
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
18/10/2024 4:30 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
This is an individual assessment. The structure and other requirements of this assessment will be provided on BB.
During the semester, you will be expected to participate in activities related to mare oestrus cycle monitoring and foal care.
Details of the activities will be provided during your practical sessions.
***TAKE NOTE:
These activities may take place outside of timetabled practical slots.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Report via Turnitin in the course blackboard site by the due date and time. 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 UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) 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 before the due date and time of the assessment item.
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.
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).
Journal Article Presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
18/10/2024 4:30 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
You are to prepare, record and upload a 15-minute presentation of a recent peer-reviewed journal article related to equine-assisted reproductive technologies.
More information will be provided on Blackboard.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Report via Turnitin in the course blackboard site by the due date and time. 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 UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) 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 before the due date and time of the assessment item.
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.
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 Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
Task description
The final exam will primarily focus on content that was not covered in the in-semester exam. However, many foundational concepts introduced by our first lecturers are essential for understanding and answering questions on the topics covered after the in-semester exam. This foundational knowledge is necessary and will be evaluated in the final examination.
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 | Any calculator 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% |
| 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 and Assessment Hurdles:
- Students must obtain a passing mark in the combined cumulative result for the 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 passing mark in the combined result for the In-Semester and End-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.
Additional assessment information
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
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
Re-mark Applications - refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check on 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
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred In-Semester Examinations)
Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
The Equine Unit reproduction facilities, yardsﾠand the associatedﾠAustralian Stock Horse stud will be utilised for this course.
Please note: This course ANIM7120 is co-taught with ANIM2039, these courses share a Blackboard site. The assessment for each course will however be different.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Not scheduled |
Fieldwork |
Field Trips and Industry Engagement During this course, students will have the opportunity to participate in field trips to gain additional knowledge and connect with the industry. These activities will be optional and may conflict with other scheduled activities from this or other courses. Information about field trips will be available on Blackboard as soon as the dates and transportation details are confirmed. |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 4 |
Lecture |
Module 1 - The mare and the foal Mare reproductive physiology. Oestrus cycle. Pregnancy, placenta, foaling and Lactation. Management of the Foal. |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Practical |
Practicals (animal and laboratory skills) Practicals: Mare ans Stallion reproductive physiology. Oestrus cycle. Pregnancy, placenta, foaling and Lactation. Management of the Foal. Preparation of mares and stallions for mating, Mating procedures, semen assesment and freezing, oocyte collection and manipulation, in vitro embryo production. Please note that some of these practicals are not scheduled on the timetable and run throughout the entire semester. Attendance and active participation in scheduled face-to-face practical classes is compulsory. |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 8 |
Lecture |
Module 2 - Stallion, Donkeys and Mules Manipulation of the Oestrus cycle. Reproduction in Donkeys and Mules. Stallion reproductive physiology. Mating Management. Semen collection and assessment. |
Multiple weeks From Week 9 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Module 3 - Assisted Reproductive Technologies Assisted Reproductive Technologies Semen collection and artificial insemination, OPU, embryo transfer, In vitro embryo production (ICSI, Cloning, Stem cells). |
Additional learning activity information
The schedule above is subject to changes based on breeding activity schedules for the mares. The exact topic schedule will be shared with students on a weekly basis through blackboard. Due to the reproductive behaviour of horses, some of the work will need to be undertaken outside normal timetabled and/or rostered sessions to complete the horse breeding tasks, consequently, students will need to allocate their own time for this. This includes foaling down of mares which usually occurs at night. Please be aware that teaching at UQ may be recorded for the benefit of student learning. If you would prefer not to be captured either by voice or image, please advise your course coordinator before class so accommodations can be made.
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 - 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 (https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/2.60.08-vaccinations-and-immunisation) 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 3.2 of the Enrolment policy (https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.40.11-enrolment).