Course Standards
History of Domestication
1) Synthesize research on the history of large animal domestication to produce an informative
essay, including defining and applying industry-specific terminology to classify animals in the
correct taxonomy. Justify the historical uses and roles of domesticated animals, and compare
historical processes of large animal domestication.
Economic, Occupational and Technological Implications
2) Determine the general economic impact of the large animal industry by investigating both
recreational and business implications of large animal domestication through governmental
and news publications. Develop a summary including both graphical representations and
descriptive text to summarize findings.
3) Explore and compare local and regional career opportunities in the large animal industry and
evaluate labor data to predict the employment outlook. Describe in a written or visual
representation the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a diverse range of careers in
large animal sciences citing specific textual evidence from local job postings and Tennessee
labor data.
4) Accurately maintain an activity recordkeeping system and apply proper financial
recordkeeping skills as they relate to a large animal science supervised agricultural experience
(SAE) program. Demonstrate the ability to summarize records and reports by completing SAE
and related applications.
5) Examine specific technologies that have evolved within the large animal industry (such as, but
not limited to equipment, housing, procedures, and healthcare) and evaluate the economic and societal implications of each.
Personal and Occupational Health and Safety
6) Identify, research, and determine the significance of zoonotic diseases associated with large
animals. Compare and contrast findings from multiple credible sources relating to a specific
disease (including student’s own experience or laboratory experiment, case studies, and
scholarly journals). Justify the use of different methods of infection control in the prevention or
management of a zoonotic disease and evaluate the efficacy of existing large animal
biosecurity measures.
7) Correctly identify and summarize laws and regulations that pertain to large animal health and
safety in an explanatory text, citing specific textual evidence from state and national
legislation. Describe health requirements and necessary documentation for large animal
transportation and change of ownership.
8) Review common laboratory safety procedures for tool and equipment operation in the large
animal laboratories, including but not limited to accident prevention and control procedures.
Demonstrate the ability to follow safety and operational procedures in a lab setting and
complete a safety test with 100 percent accuracy.
9) Demonstrate in a live setting or in a presentation the ability to follow procedures precisely,
attending to special cases or exceptions noted in appropriate materials, and apply them to the
following areas:
a. Animal restraint and handling
b. Techniques for transportation
c. Appropriate use of chemicals (such as pesticide, fungicide, disinfectants)
d. Differentiate between effective methods for handling large animals and methods
proven to be less effective.
Animal Ethics
10) Identify the fundamental philosophies related to animal rights and animal welfare. Compare
the impact of specific persons, organizations, and legislation related to animal rights and
welfare of large animals.
11) Investigate current large animal issues by analyzing an author’s purpose and assessing the
extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a specific text support the author’s claim.
Debate specific issues by forming and supporting claims and counterclaims with specific data and evidence. Issues related to animal rights and animal welfare may include, but are not
limited to:
a. Abuse and/or neglect
b. Environmental implications
c. Consumer product implications
d. Exhibiting and showing
e. Global issues in large animal ethics and their relation to local problems
Nutrition and Digestive Systems
12) Create a visual representation to differentiate between ruminant and non-ruminant animals
and monogastric and polygastric animals, comparing and contrasting their anatomical and
physiological differences. Explain the relationships of digestive system types to the ability of an
animal to digest and absorb different classes of feed.
13) Using information from scholarly journals or Tennessee Extension Service, research nutrient
requirements of the diets of large animals and organize these into various nutrient groups. Differentiate between roughages and concentrates and their nutritional values.
14) Interpret feed labeling and evaluate factors such as life stage and activity level to determine
the nutritional needs and then recommend balance rations for each large animal species,
justifying recommendations with evidence from the text.
15) Diagnose the symptoms of nutritional diseases relevant to large animals and recommend the
appropriate control procedures, citing specific evidence to support recommendations.
Genetics and Reproduction
16) Research and develop illustrative models of the major components of male and female
reproductive systems in large animals and prepare a short narrative to distinguish the function
of reproductive organs, endocrine glands, and hormones. Produce an explanatory essay
comparing the physiological changes that occur across different species during reproductive
phases, including the estrus cycle, fertilization, gestation, parturition and lactation.
17) Using graphical representations and descriptive text, explain how the roles of heritability,
selection intensity, generation interval, and other advanced principles of genetics (such as DNA
testing for disorders) apply to predict gene and trait transfer in large animal species. Principles
include but are not limited to:
a. Economically important traits in production animals (i.e. artificial reproduction
methods)
b. Interpretation and utilization of animal performance records (i.e. Expected Progeny
Difference [EPD])
c. Hybrid vigor
Fundamental Care and Health of Horses
18) Synthesize research on the historical importance of horses, noting major economic, social, and
medical advances impacting domestication. Produce an informational essay or model (such as
a timeline, graphical illustration, or presentation) that formulates comparisons among
different horse breeds and hybrids. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and technical skill
in current practices of comprehensive health care and management for the following:
a. Design appropriate facilities based on assessment of needs and present plans in a visual
format
b. Compare appropriate owner/handler responses to behaviors and instincts to ensure
safety of both handler and animal in a variety of situations
c. Distinguish between clinical signs of proper health and poor health, justifying
explanations with data and evidence
d. Using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units, calculate appropriate rations
based on animal characteristics (age, weight, breed, activity level) and nutritional needs
by creating systems of equations that describe numerical relationships
e. Illustrate the reproductive cycle graphically, and summarize available breeding
methods and current reproductive technologies
f. Research common diseases and parasites and their effects on the health of horses,
and draw evidence from the most recent medical literature to recommend the best prevention or control measures.
Fundamental Care and Health of Cattle
19) Synthesize research on the historical importance of cattle, noting major economic, social, and
medical advances impacting domestication. Produce an informational essay or model (such as
a timeline, graphical illustration, or presentation) that formulates comparisons among
different cattle breeds. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and technical skill in current
practices of comprehensive health care and management for the following:
a. Design appropriate facilities based on assessment of needs and present plans in a
visual format
b. Compare appropriate owner/handler responses to behaviors and instincts to ensure
safety of both handler and animal in a variety of situations
c. Distinguish between clinical signs of proper health and poor health, justifying
explanations with data and evidence
d. Using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units, calculate rations based on animal
characteristics (age, weight, breed, activity level) and nutritional needs by creating
systems of equations that describe numerical relationships
e. Illustrate the reproductive cycle graphically, summarize available breeding method,
and current reproductive technologies
f. Research common diseases and parasites and their effects on the health of cattle, and
draw evidence from the most recent medical literature to recommend the best
prevention or control measures
g. Evaluate the economic implications of livestock management practices (such as dehorning)
Fundamental Care and Health of Sheep and Goats
20) Synthesize research on the historical importance of sheep and goats, noting major economic,
social, and medical advances impacting domestication. Produce an informational essay or
model (such as a timeline, graphical illustration, or presentation) that formulates comparisons
among different sheep and goat breeds. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and
technical skill in current practices of comprehensive health care and management for the
following:
a. Design appropriate facilities based on assessment of needs and present plans in a
visual format
b. Compare appropriate owner/handler responses to behaviors and instincts to ensure
safety of both handler and animal in a variety of situations
c. Distinguish between clinical signs of proper health and poor health, justifying
explanations with data and evidence
d. Using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units, calculate appropriate rations
based on animal characteristics (age, weight, breed, activity level) and nutritional needs
by creating systems of equations that describe numerical relationships
e. Illustrate the reproductive cycle graphically, and summarize available breeding
methods and current reproductive technologies
f. Research common diseases and parasites and their effects on the health of sheep and
goats, and draw evidence from the most recent medical literature to recommend the best prevention or control measures
Fundamental Care and Health of Swine
21) Synthesize research on the historical importance of swine, noting major economic, social, and
medical advances impacting domestication. Produce an informational essay or model (such as
a timeline, graphical illustration, or presentation) that formulates comparisons among
different swine breeds. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and technical skill in current
practices of comprehensive health care and management for the following:
a. Design appropriate facilities based on assessment of needs and present plans in a
visual format
b. Compare appropriate owner/handler responses to behaviors and instincts to ensure
safety of both handler and animal in a variety of situations
c. Distinguish between clinical signs of proper health and poor health, justifying
explanations with data and evidence
d. Using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units, calculate appropriate rations
based on animal characteristics (age, weight, breed, activity level) and nutritional needs
by creating systems of equations that describe numerical relationships
e. Illustrate the reproductive cycle graphically, and summarize available breeding
methods and current reproductive technologies
f. Research common diseases and parasites and their effects on the health of swine, and
draw evidence from the most recent medical literature to recommend the best prevention or control measures
Fundamental Care and Health of Poultry
22) Synthesize research on the historical importance of poultry, noting major economic, social,
and medical advances impacting domestication. Produce an informational essay or model
(such as a timeline, graphical illustration, or presentation) that formulates comparisons among
different poultry breeds. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and technical skill in current
practices of comprehensive health care and management for the following:
a. Design appropriate facilities based on assessment of needs and present plans in a
visual format
b. Compare appropriate owner/handler responses to behaviors and instincts to ensure
safety of both handler and bird in a variety of situations
c. Distinguish between clinical signs of proper health and poor health, justifying
explanations with data and evidence
d. Using quantitative reasoning and appropriate units, calculate appropriate rations
based on bird characteristics (age, weight, breed, activity level) and nutritional needs
by creating systems of equations that describe numerical relationships
e. Illustrate the reproductive cycle graphically, and summarize available breeding
methods and current reproductive technologies
f. Research common diseases and parasites and their effects on the health of poultry,
and draw evidence from the most recent medical literature to recommend the best
prevention or control measures