Syllabus

COURSE INFORMATION:

Title: Health Issues in Domesticated Herds
Department/Number: HLRM 170 Credits: 2
Prerequisites: None
Recommended: HLRM 150

Location: Northwest Campus and distance delivered via Blackboard and Collaborate

Meeting Dates/Time: This is an online course. Grade data will be available on Blackboard. Most work will be completed asynchronously, following weekly deadlines. Students will also attend several synchronous check-in meetings via Blackboard Collaborate.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

DR. GREG FINSTAD
UAF Northwest Campus
Pouch 400
Nome, AK 99762

LOCAL CONTACT INFO:
UAF Northwest Campus
Pouch 400
Nome, AK 99762
907-443-8418
907-474-6055

COURSE READINGS/MATERIALS:

Course Textbook: Reindeer Health Aide Manual

Author: Dieterich et. al. Publisher: UAF Reindeer Research Program

Required Supplies: A lab kit will also be supplied with confirmed enrollment.

Access to a computer that supports, UAF Blackboard, Blackboard Collaborate, connection to the internet and an updated browser is also required.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Course will cover: Anatomy and physiology specific to high latitude domestic ruminants, overall health issues and problem solving techniques for managing the health of domesticated ungulates, including a review of indicators for disease or parasitic infections. Vaccinations and Rx treatments; including use in food animals, field necropsy techniques, blood and tissue collection procedures, herd health husbandry and monitoring will also be covered.

COURSE GOALS:

General Description of Goals: The overall goal of this course is for students to gain knowledge and develop technical skills in health issues related to domesticated ungulates, both farmed and free-ranging, in Alaska.

Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives (Provide Examples):

Knowledge and comprehension outcomes/objectives:
– Identify features of ungulate anatomy and physiology
– Identify the organs and bones of ungulates
– Describe antler growth and tooth wear
– Explain the benefits of preventative medicine for a domesticated herd
– Recognize signs and symptoms of common injuries and/or diseases
– Identify indicators of disease or parasitic infections
– Identify basic herd health practices such as castration, calving, hoof care, broken antlers
– Describe body response to bacteria, viruses and manifestations of disease
– Recognize available vaccinations for high latitude ruminants
– Discuss traditional knowledge of domesticated ungulate health

Analysis and application outcomes/objectives:
– Differentiate between the transmission, diagnosis and control of diseases and parasites common to or potentially problematic to Alaskan ungulates
– Examine vaccination types and other treatments used to treat ungulates, including dosage, timing of administration, and use in meat animals
– Employ a herd health monitoring program to a real domesticated herd
– Interpret results from the field necropsy demonstration to determine animal condition
– Analyze state of Alaska and federal disease certification and animal monitoring programs and the impact on the domesticated ungulate industry

Synthesis and evaluation outcomes/objectives:
– Capability to design a herd health management program
– Evaluate health factors in a herd and choose necessary treatments
– Collect tissue, blood and fecal samples for contaminants, health and genetics
– Perform field necropsy, identify organs, systems, structures

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:

A variety of instructional methods will be used in this course, including Internet research, reading assignments, discussion, reflection, presentation, and peer evaluation.

ASSIGNMENT POINT DISTRIBUTION:

Quizzes: 7 quizzes at 25 points each.
Writing & Reflection: 7 at 25 points each.
Presentations (photo or video): 50 points each.
Discussion participation: 50 points.
Final project: 200 points.
Total points possible: 700 points.  

EVALUATION:

The grading system for the course will be: 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F. The student’s grade will be based on completing assigned readings, 2 in-class quizzes (20% each), lab-style practical exam (20%), and the development of a herd health management plan (20%). In addition to the coursework, attendance (10%) and class participation (10%) will be used to determine the student’s final grade. Unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, and failure to complete course materials and participate may result in a failing grade.

 

SYLLABUS / COURSE CALENDAR:

August 27,28 –  Tutorial on Blackboard

Module 1
August 27 – September 16
Ruminant Anatomy
o The skeleton and muscles
o The organs
o Hair
o Reflection and Quiz 1 ID structure September 16, 2018

Module 2
September 17 – September 30
Ruminant Physiology
o The Immune System
o Circulation – adaptations to the cold, body heat control
o Respiration — adaptations to the cold, body heat control
o Tooth eruption patterns and aging by wear
o Antler Growth
o Reproduction
o Review of the rumen
o Reflection and Quiz 2 September 30, 2018

Module 3
October 1 – October 7
Biology of Disease
o Bacteria and Viruses
o Natural body responses bacteria and viruses
o Immunity to Disease
o How the immune system responds to vaccinations
Overwhelming infections
Reflection and Quiz 3 October 7, 2018

Module 4
October 8 – October 14
Ungulate Diseases and Treatments: The history, transmission, diagnosis, significance, and control of the following
Bacterial diseases
o Brucellosis
o Pasteurellosis
o Foot rot
o Respiratory Diseases
o Keratitis
o Yersinnia
o Johne’s Disease
o Clostridial Disease
Mycobaterium diseases
Tuberculosis
Viral diseases
o Contagious ecthyma
o Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy vs Chronic Wasting Disease
o West Nile Virus
o Malignant Catarrhal Fever
o Fibropapillomas
o Rabies
o Which diseases are Zoonotic?
o Reflection Quiz 4 October 14, 2018

Module 5
October 15 – October 21
Parasitology and Parasites: How parasites work; description, transmission, incidence, life cycles, and treatment/control of the following
o Ectoparasites
– Warbles
– Nasal bots
o Endoparasites
– Lungworms
– Tapeworms (Echinococcus and Taenia)
– Setaria
– Protozoans
o Reflection, Quiz 5 October 21, 2018

Module 6
October 22 – November 11
Herd Health, Husbandry and Monitoring
Unit 6.1
o Castration
o Calving
o Bottle raising reindeer
Unit 6.2
o Herd health check — what to look for, signs/symptoms of possible injury or disease/sickness, indicators for disease or parasitic infections (Video of Carla doing vet check)
o Benefits of preventative medicine
Unit 6.3 First Aid
o Common medical treatments: basic first aid for wounds, hoof care (trimming and infection), broken antlers, administering injections, treating abscesses
o Quiz 6 Self video of use of basic animal first aid techniques due November 11, 2018

Module 7
November 12 – November 25
Field necropsy. Collection of blood and tissue.
o Quiz 7 November 25, 2018. Self-video or presentation of collection of blood and tissue samples

Final Exam/Project
November 26 – December 7

Reflection, review and preparation for Final Exam and/or Final Project
Final Project will consist of producing a video of field necropsy of an animal identifying structures, organ functions and disease potentials.

Final exam or Final project due December 7, 2018.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is an online course. Students will use a computer to communicate, to access online multimedia (audio, video), and to create multimedia. Consistent Internet access and a computer with the ability to record and broadcast sound via a built-in or external mic or a headset will be required.

Students are expected to be active participants in online exchanges and with other colleagues and mentors. Additionally, there will be periodic online interaction with the instructor using Blackboard Collaborate.

Students will be expected to have the most current versions of several applications that will be used in this course, including Google Chrome, QuickTime and Java.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE TIME:

I will typically respond to e-mail requests for help within 24 hours. If you don’t hear from me after 24 hours, contact me again–I may have missed your message! Due dates for the course are Saturdays; I will do most grading over the weekend. You can expect to receive a grade and/or feedback within seven days of the assignment due date. Both grades and feedback are provided through Blackboard.

COURSE POLICIES:

Students bring a variety of experiences and knowledge to the class cohort. Each student’s unique perspective is an important component of the learning experience for his or her peers and colleagues–students will be expected to contribute and collaborate actively.

SUPPORT SERVICES:

The Division of Student Services provides student-centered programs and services designed to assist students in achieving their personal, academic and career goals. In collaboration with the academic deans, we lead the university in recruiting a diverse student body. With the use of ongoing assessment we support and develop programs and communities that contribute to the retention, success and leadership development of students. Go to https://www.uaf.edu/ses/ to learn more.

UAF eCampus provides student support services for this online course. See UAF eCampus’s website at: https://ecampus.uaf.edu.

Writing support services are available to UAF students through the Writing Center, located in 801 Gruening, 474-5314, online at:https://www.alaska.edu/english/writing-center/
. You are encouraged to use this resource to meet writing expectations.
Technology support services are available through the OIT Support Center, 450-8300 (Toll Free: 800-478-8226), online at:https://www.alaska.edu/oit/sc/about/contact.xml, and via email to helpdesk@alaska.edu.

DISABILITIES SERVICES:
UAF has a Disability Services office that operates in conjunction with UAF eCampus. Disability Services, a part of UAF’s Center for Health and Counseling, provides academic accommodations to enrolled students who are identified as being eligible for these services.
If you believe you are eligible, please visit https://www.uaf.edu/disability.html on the web or contact a student affairs staff person at your nearest local campus. You can also contact Disability Services on the Fairbanks Campus at (907) 474-7043, uaf-disabilityservies@alaska.edu.