Animal Management for Veterinarians (VETS1025)

Course overview

This is a foundation course in the BVSc training programme. It will provide students with the underpinning knowledge and understanding of the behaviour and husbandry of domestic and non-domestic animals commonly attended by veterinarians. The course also introduces students to key concepts in animal welfare, particularly as it relates to animal management. Students will gain the required skills to enable them to competently handle and restrain common domestic animal species. After completing this training students will have the essential knowledge, understanding and skills required for them to successfully complete their preclinical extramural studies placements.

VETS1025 focuses on animal husbandry, handling, behaviour and welfare of common domesticated animals farmed for food and fibre (production animals) and common companion and performance animals (dogs, cats, 'pocket' pets, birds, reptiles, aquarium fish and horses). The lectures will cover the husbandry, behaviour and welfare of beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, goats, camelids, pigs, poultry, dogs, cats, 'pocket' pets, birdsﾠand reptiles. The practical component of the course will focus on developing the animal handling skills of students to enable them to competently and safely complete their Animal Husbandry & Pre-Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement milestone and be able to progress to training in the clinical examination of animals.

Course requirements

Assumed background

As for first year veterinary science students

Restrictions

Enrolment restricted to Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) students only.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please check your course Blackboard site frequently for the latest Timetable information.

Please note that unexpected changes to the Timetable may occur throughout the Semester. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly check the course Blackboard site. Any updates to the timetable will be communicated to students via Blackboard Announcements.

Aims and outcomes

To provide students with a sound understanding of the husbandry management (including animal handling, behaviour and welfare) of cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cats, goats, camelids, poultry, birds, 'pocket' pets and reptiles. The course will provide the underpinning knowledge and skills for students to complete the required preclinical EMS placements in second and third year of the BVSc program and provide a foundation for clinical practice.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

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

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

25%

Due date

8/04/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Students must be available for their examinations on the scheduled date, time, and campus of their course enrolment. The exam format is determined by the Course Coordinator and may include written (paper-based, online, or digital), practical, oral, or other timed assessments (such as quizzes).

If you are unable to sit for your original examination, you may be eligible for a deferred examination. To apply, you must demonstrate that unavoidable circumstances prevented you from attending your exam. If this is not possible, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam. All requests for deferred examinations MUST include supporting documentation. For more information, including acceptable evidence and application instructions, please visit my.UQ Deferring an Exam.

Please note that there are no provisions to defer an already-deferred exam. You must be available to sit your deferred examination at the allocated time.

Students who submit five or more deferral requests within a twelve-month period will be contacted with advice on the services and support available within the University.

End of Semester 1 Theory Examination

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

35%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Students must be available for their examinations on the scheduled date, time, and campus of their course enrolment. The exam format is determined by the Course Coordinator and may include written (paper-based, online, or digital), practical, oral, or other timed assessments (such as quizzes).

If you are unable to sit for your original examination, you may be eligible for a deferred examination. To apply, you must demonstrate that unavoidable circumstances prevented you from attending your exam. If this is not possible, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam. All requests for deferred examinations MUST include supporting documentation. For more information, including acceptable evidence and application instructions, please visit my.UQ Deferring an Exam

Please note that there are no provisions to defer an already-deferred exam. You must be available to sit your deferred examination at the allocated time.

Students who submit five or more deferral requests within a twelve-month period will be contacted with advice on the services and support available within the University.

Animal Behaviour Assignment

• Team or group-based

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

15%

Due date

10/09/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L05, L08

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your Assignmemt through the course Turnitin submission point in Blackboard (Assessment Folder).

Before submitting your assessment item to Turnitin, please name your file in the following way:

For example, SMITH Bob_54329876_VETS1234_Essay1

All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if one or more of your submissions are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty or, after seven days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension. Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

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.

You are required to submit assessable items on time.

If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.

For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.

End of Semester 2 Theory Examination

• In-person
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

25%

Due date

Second End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L06

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Students must be available for their examinations on the scheduled date, time, and campus of their course enrolment. The exam format is determined by the Course Coordinator and may include written (paper-based, online, or digital), practical, oral, or other timed assessments (such as quizzes).

If you are unable to sit for your original examination, you may be eligible for a deferred examination. To apply, you must demonstrate that unavoidable circumstances prevented you from attending your exam. If this is not possible, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam. All requests for deferred examinations MUST include supporting documentation. For more information, including acceptable evidence and application instructions, please visit my.UQ Deferring an Exam

Please note that there are no provisions to defer an already-deferred exam. You must be available to sit your deferred examination at the allocated time.

Students who submit five or more deferral requests within a twelve-month period will be contacted with advice on the services and support available within the University.

Practical Exams - Handling common domestic animals

• Hurdle

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

First End of Semester Exam Period

(7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025)

AND

Second End of Semester Exam Period

(8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025)

Learning outcomes

L06, L07

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Students must be available for their examinations on the scheduled date, time, and campus of their course enrolment. The exam format is determined by the Course Coordinator and may include written (paper-based, online, or digital), practical, oral, or other timed assessments (such as quizzes).

If you are unable to sit for your original examination, you may be eligible for a deferred examination. To apply, you must demonstrate that unavoidable circumstances prevented you from attending your exam. If this is not possible, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam. All requests for deferred examinations MUST include supporting documentation. For more information, including acceptable evidence and application instructions, please visit my.UQ Deferring an Exam

Please note that there are no provisions to defer an already-deferred exam. You must be available to sit your deferred examination at the allocated time.

Deferred 'Practical Exams - handling common domestic animals' will be held during the published Deferred and Supplementary Examination period in the semester of the original exam (i.e. Cat and Cattle handling in Semester 1 and all other species in Semester 2).

Farm Ready Training Course

• Hurdle
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

31/10/2025 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L07

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

At the end of Semester 2, UQ Skills will provide SVS with a list of students who have completed the Farm Ready training. You do not need to upload a certificate or take any additional action after completing the course. Your completion of Farm Ready will not show up in the Blackboard Grade Centre until grade release.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Students need to be available to attend their Farm Ready Training Course at the scheduled date and time arranged with UQ Skills.

If you are unable to complete your Farm Ready Training Course at the allocated time, you may be eligible to defer this assessment item. To apply, you must demonstrate that unavoidable circumstances prevented you from attending your Farm Ready Training course. All requests to defer this assessment task MUST include supporting documentation. For more information, including acceptable evidence and application instructions, please visit my.UQ Deferring an Exam.

Please note that there are no provisions to defer an already-deferred assessment task. You must be available to complete the deferred Farm Ready Training Course at the allocated time.  

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

To pass VETS1025

• Students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% (i.e. for the combined assessment tasks)ﾠAND
• Achieve a mark of at least 70% for EACH of the species examined (cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, cats and dogs) in the “handling common domestic animals” practical exams AND
• Complete the Farm Ready Training Course

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

A passing grade must be attained in ALL Year One courses prior to the commencement of the Animal Husbandry & Pre-Clinical Work Integrated Learning (WIL) milestone.

Grade calculations

When rounding final marks for grade calculations, part marks of <0.5 will be ROUNDED DOWN to the nearest whole number, and part marks of >/= 0.5 will be ROUNDED UP to the nearest whole number. 

Prac Exam Failure

Students who do not achieve a 70% pass mark in EACH of the animal handling practical examinations may be eligible for a resit of that examination. Students will only be eligible for a resit examination if they have attended the failed species animal handling practical class taught during the semester. If a resit examination is awarded, students will be required to undertake retraining in the species they failed prior to the resit examination.

• The retraining and resit examination for species examined in Semester 1 will be scheduled in the Semester 1 Deferred and Supplementary Examination period.
• The retraining and resit examination for species examined in in Semester 2 will take place immediately following the Semester 2 End of Semester Examination period. 

Students who are not eligible for, or who fail, a resit examination in any species, may be eligible for supplementary assessment under UQ Assessment Procedures.

Supplementary assessment for ALL species, including those examined in Semester 1, will be scheduled in the Semester 2 Deferred and Supplementary Examination period. 

All Practical 'Animal Handling' Exams, Retraining, Resits, Deferred and Supplementary examinations will be held on the Gatton Campus ONLY.

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

PLAGIARISM AND/OR ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT OF ANY TYPE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED,ﾠplease refer to the following link concerning student integrity and misconduct (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconductﾠ)

UQ students are required to meet the expectations set out in the Student Charter (ﾠhttp://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.01-student-charterﾠ) and the Information Communication and Technology Policy (https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/6.20.01-information-and-communication-technologyﾠ) at all times.ﾠ

Students must ensure they have read and understood all three policies.ﾠ

Assessment using the Inspera platform

Students must click the ‘SUBMIT NOW’ button on the summary page to submit their answers. After submission, a confirmation will appear on the dashboard indicating that the answers have been submitted and can no longer be edited.

For all exams lasting 60, 90, 120, or 180 minutes, an additional 10 minutes of planning time is provided to read the questions and plan responses, though students may start working immediately if they choose.

It’s crucial to ensure your laptop meets the device requirements for Inspera assessments before the exam. If you don’t have a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library. Check Get Familiar with Inspera for the most up-to-date information about using the platform. Note that power outlets will not be available during exams.

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

UQ Student Support and Wellbeing Services

Harmonising study and life commitments and seeking help early when needed is essential for successfully navigating university studies. UQ Student Support and Wellbeing Services (SSWS) and UQU Student Advocacy and Support (SAS) offer numerous resources for BVSc(Hons) and BVetTech students, including various mindfulness programs and counselling services to boost confidence and promote overall physical and mental wellbeing.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the UQ Counselling and Crisis Line on 1300 851 998 (available 24/7, 365 days a year).

The Hub

The Student Clinical Skills Hub is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art self-directed learning facility located centrally in the School (John Mahon (8105), Room 101) with two main areas and an online resource community available for all SVS students.

The Hub has a lab where students can practice their clinical skills using standard veterinary equipment, on simulators and/or models in conjunction with supporting audio-visual resources and a smaller communications suite with two working consult rooms, a viewing room and a debriefing space.

The Hub’s aim is to provide a safe, authentic, self-directed learning environment where students can practice their clinical skills in accordance with individual competences beyond the scheduled contact hours of their programs and further enhance their capacity for self-directed, lifelong learning.

If you cannot access the community or have any other questions, please contact the Hub Coordinator via svs-hub@uq.edu.au or ext 15046.

SVS BVSc(Hons) and BVetTech Student Support

The 2025 School of Veterinary Science Student Support Blackboard Site can be found by visiting [SCIE0586] Student Support for BVSc & BVetTech programs 2025 SCIE0586_7520_00101   

This site contains links to valuable resources and information for all BVSc(Hons) and BVetTech students. Here you will find information on topics such as:

• Orientation and new student information
• Mental health and wellbeing
• OH&S
•  Program rules and requirements
• Study planners
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Study help and support
• Useful SVS staff contacts –
• Academic Student Mentors, International Student Mentor, Peers Support Network, SVS Academic Progression and Integrity Officer, SVS Chief Examiner, SVS Director of Students and Admissions, etc.
• SVS Student Information Resource Handbook

The site also offers a way for you to share your valuable feedback directly with the School about your experiences as a student. We welcome and encourage your input, as it helps us continually improve our processes. If you have a formal grievance regarding academic or teaching standards, please refer to the Student Grievance Resolution Policy to understand your options and the steps you can take.  

Additional Course Resources

Lecturers will provide students with recommended texts, websites via Blackboard links. The Gatton library has a comprehensive collection of texts covering the husbandry management of all species covered in the course. Search for resources on theﾠLibrary website.

As part of a collaboration between the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland and Sydney, Murdoch University and Massey University a series of high-resolution panoramic four-dimensional (4D) virtual farm videos have been created to help prepare veterinary students for their livestock husbandry placements and to improve their understanding of the livestock farming enterprises. Students will be able to see firsthand the seasonal changes in grazing properties and how intensive farming units are organised.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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.