SRJC Course Outlines

12/8/2024 11:44:31 AMANSC 153 Course Outline as of Summer 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  ANSC 153Title:  SUS ANIMAL PROD  
Full Title:  Sustainable Agriculture Production Systems with Animals
Last Reviewed:2/7/2022

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.5017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled43.75
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled1.506 min.Lab Scheduled26.25
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total4.00 Contact Total70.00
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  87.50Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  ANSCI 153

Catalog Description:
Untitled document
In this course, students will explore the integration of livestock as part of a sustainable farming system with emphasis on small-scale production for niche markets and pasture-based-systems. Students will learn appropriate breed selection, nutrition and living requirements for livestock such as goats, hogs, sheep, poultry and cattle. Current applications of sustainable animal agriculture including the challenges of animal production, animal needs, animal welfare, and protection of the environment and resources for future food supply systems will also be covered in this course.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 OR EMLS 100 (formerly ESL 100) or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
In this course, students will explore the integration of livestock as part of a sustainable farming system with emphasis on small-scale production for niche markets and pasture-based-systems. Students will learn appropriate breed selection, nutrition and living requirements for livestock such as goats, hogs, sheep, poultry and cattle. Current applications of sustainable animal agriculture including the challenges of animal production, animal needs, animal welfare, and protection of the environment and resources for future food supply systems will also be covered in this course.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 OR EMLS 100 (formerly ESL 100) or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
1. Explain consumer concerns that affect market animal production.
2. Apply concepts of niche market production to animal management strategies.
3. Explain the benefits of pasture management strategies as they relate to land improvement.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Define sustainable animal agriculture utilizing the philosophies relative to sustainable agriculture.
2. Explain the differences among sustainable livestock product classifications.
3. Articulate both sides of the contemporary issues affecting the animal production industries (both sustainable and the traditional animal systems) today.
4. Identify resources necessary for successful sustainable agricultural production systems with animals.
5. Identify appropriate models of sustainable animal agricultural farming..
6. Explain the challenges faced in sustainable animal agriculture systems.
7. List the principles for enhancing the profitability and sustainability in agricultural practices.

Topics and Scope
Untitled document
I. Sustainable Animal Agriculture                                        
     A. Definition of sustainable agriculture                                       
     B. Issues facing animal production                                       
          1. Economics                           
          2. Environmental                            
          3. Ethical                           
          4. Social                           
          5. Cultural                           
     C. Local vs. global perspectives                                       
II. Niche Market Production                                                   
     A. Production systems                                       
          1. Small scale                           
          2. Pasture based                           
          3. Carbon farm                           
          4. Fire mitigation                           
          5. Breed considerations                           
     B. Animal management                                       
          1. Grassfed livestock                           
               a. Ruminants and grazing               
                    i. Nutrition         
                    ii. Anatomy and physiology         
               b. Grazing systems               
               c. Plant identification               
               d. Stocking rate               
               e. Rates of gain versus conventional systems               
               f. Milk production and pasture               
               g. Disease risk               
           2. Poultry                           
               a. Nutrition of pasture poultry               
               b. Housing considerations               
               c. Rates of gain               
               d. Species considerations               
               e. Disease risk               
     C. Processing and end products                                       
          1. Carcass quality                           
          2. Growth and Development                           
          3. Processing                           
               a. Processing strategies               
               b. Value added products               
               c. Food safety processes               
III. Agroecology                                                   
     A. Environmental considerations of animal production                                       
          1. Soil science                           
          2. Water quality                           
          3. Invasive species management                           
     B. Soil science                                       
     C. Carbon sequestration                                       
IV. Business Management                                                   
     A. Business planning                                       
     B. Niche marketing                                       
          1. Definition                           
          2. Marketing strategies                           
               a. USDA systems               
               b. Third party systems                         
          3. Understanding consumer concerns                           
     C. Economics                                       
          1. Enterprise budgets                           
          2. Cost benefit analysis                                     
          3. Where to market                                 
     D. Regulation of marketing and processing                                        
          1. Federal               
          2. Local
 
Concepts presented in lecture are applied and practiced in lab.

Assignments:
Untitled document
Lecture based assignments:
1. Weekly reading (20-30 pages)
2. Presentations (2- 4)
3. Worksheets (8-10)
4. Quizzes (2-3)
5. Midterm and final project
 
Lab based assignments:
1. Lab write ups (6-9)
2. Field work including measuring animal management practices

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
10 - 20%
Lab write ups, worksheets
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
10 - 20%
Worksheets
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
10 - 20%
Field work including measuring animal management practices, term projects
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
30 - 50%
Quizzes, mid-term project and final project
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 20%
Presentations


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
Defending Beef: The Ecological and Nutritional Case for Meat. 2nd edition. Hahn Niman , Nicolette. Chelsea Green Publishing. 2021
The Art and Science of Grazing. 1st edition. Flack, Sarah. Chelsea Green Publishing. 2016
Silvopasture: A Guide to Managing Grazing Animals, Forage Crops, and Trees in a Temperate Farm Ecosystem. 2nd edition. Gabriel, Steve. Chelsea Green Publishing. 2018
Beyond the Rangeland Conflict: Toward a West That Works. 2nd edition. Dagget, Dan. Good Stewards Project. 2000 (classic)
Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. 1st edition. Gliessman, Stephen. CRC Press. 1997 (classic)
Agricultural Systems Management: Optimizing Efficiency and Performance. 1st edition. Peart, Robert M. and W. David Shoup. CRC Press. 2004 (classic)
The Last Harvest: The Genetic Gamble That Threatens to Destroy American Agriculture. 1st edition. Raeburn, Paul. Bison Books. 1996 (classic)
The New Ranch Handbook: A Guide to Restoring Western Rangelands. 1st edition. Freeman Sayre, Nathan. Quivira Coalition. 2001 (classic)
Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution. 1st edition. Hawken, Paul. US Green Building Council. 2000 (classic)

Print PDF