Livestock (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) (18 credits)
Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
Program credit weight: 18
Program Description
The Specialization in Livestock focuses on essentials of livestock production as it relates to providing food and other resources to consumers. The key components of livestock management (reproductive physiology, breeding and genomics, nutrition, and welfare with hands-on farm experience),including precision animal agriculture and highlights provincial and national livestock industries in a global context. This Specialization may be taken with the Major in Sustainable Agricultural Systems with connections to Crops, Vegetables, and Global Food Security, as well as an opportunity to take dedicated agronomic content leading to an additional Specialization in Professional Agrology, thereby meeting the eligibility requirements for the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.
Required Courses (18 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANSC 301 | Principles of Animal Breeding. | 3 |
Principles of Animal Breeding. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The qualitative and quantitative aspects of genetics as they apply to the economic improvement of domestic mammals and birds. Topics include: animal domestication, animal cytology, Mendelian traits of economic importance, principles of population genetics, statistical tools to describe populations, environmental effects, selection and mating systems. | ||
| ANSC 303 | Farm Animal Internship | 3 |
Farm Animal Internship Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Internship in farm animal production, including day-to-day activities of production, reproduction and health management, and exposure to major livestock species such as dairy cows, poultry, swine. The internship includes supervised- independent farm management activities and training by experienced livestock technicians. | ||
| ANSC 324 | Developmental Biology and Reproduction. | 3 |
Developmental Biology and Reproduction. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones and the environment. | ||
| ANSC 433 | Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. | 3 |
Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to fundamental aspects of animal nutrition, including gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology; nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism; nutrient functions and requirements of livestock species; evaluation of feedstuffs and their use in ration formulation; and feeding strategies. Laboratory classes will include hands-on experience on feed analyses, gastrointestinal tract dissections, nutritional experiments and demonstrations in livestock species as well as computer-based ration balancing exercises. | ||
| ANSC 458 | Advanced Livestock Management | 3 |
Advanced Livestock Management Terms offered: Fall 2025 Overview of the major Canadian livestock industries with particular emphasis on dairy, pork, broilers, and layers. Building on introductory livestock management and advanced nutrition, breeding, and reproductive physiology, current and evolving IofT practices for the production of consumer animal products. | ||
| ANSC 555 | The Use and Welfare of Animals. | 3 |
The Use and Welfare of Animals. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Understanding the roles in which animals are used by Society, especially in food production, companionship, research, and recreation; application of the scientific approaches that are used in assessing and improving animal welfare; and use of ethical approaches that are invoked in the use of animals, often in controversial contexts. An interdisciplinary course, based on active participation and discussion-method learning. | ||