Diploma in Animal Production

Purpose

The purpose of the Diploma in Animal Production is to train and equip Animal production learners with the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed to be farmers, farm managers, or to assist in the communities. It will prepare learners to engage in market-orientated sustainable agricultural production, diversification of products and value-adding, to assist with food security and strengthening of the rural economy. The qualification will add to the existing qualification in Agriculture in Plant Production with which it will share some modules.

Rationale

The qualification in Animal Production aims to address the needs of the farming community and the changing Agricultural landscape in South Africa. The South African agricultural landscape is in flux. It has a long history of inequitable development, and millions of land users do not benefit from the mainstream agricultural sector and the social and economic benefits derived from there. In Mpumalanga, the agricultural sector is the largest user of land, covering approximately 68% of the province. The province is well known for citrus, subtropical fruit, nuts and a variety of vegetables and animal production although a substantial productive livestock population exists. Together these industries can and do have a significant social, economic and environmental impact. The province is well-positioned to expand its contribution to GDP as well as to the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers. Thus, the presence of an institution with agricultural competence can contribute significantly to the wise development of agriculture in the province and the wider South Africa. The Advanced Diploma in Animal Production enables the institution to demonstrate that it reflects this particular character of Mpumalanga while concomitantly preparing the learners to work and contribute in the wider South African economy as well as internationally.

Ensuring production efficiency and adaptability is an important element in the transformation of the agricultural sector in South Africa. In the National Development Plan, Agricultural Science is considered critical to the country's future. The NDP calls for increasing and refocusing investment in research and development for the agricultural sector. One aspect of this is to strengthen the capacity to innovate for production efficiency and adaptability, especially in the light of climate change. The learners will be able to contribute to promoting food security by applying best practice in animal production and promoting sustainable animal production by small scale farmers.

The qualification is part of the institution's long-range plan to contribute to scholarship, community building and education. The qualification and the offered modules have been developed specifically to equip learners with skills and knowledge that will enable them to deliver on the outcomes identified in the various National strategies for South African Agriculture. They align with the principles and objectives of the National Strategy for Education and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Finally, the qualification will create a pathway for learners who cannot gain entrance to a Bachelor's qualification, to access the institution's planned Honours, Masters and PhD in Agriculture.

Agricultural science is a critical skill identified in the National Development Plan. Learners will contribute to strengthening the capacity of the nation to meet its agricultural objectives. They will help meet the demand for professionals who can participate in leading South African agriculture through the complex world of agricultural and rural transformation while at the same time supporting and helping to expand commercial agricultural activity and productivity - with a particular emphasis on innovation in the primary production systems.

The qualification aligns to the labour market for primary production and product management with the specific aim of providing learners with a skill set that will enable them to obtain meaningful employment or establish consultancies. To do this will require that learners develop more than just knowledge and skills relevant to animal production management, methods and systems - they will need to do this in the context of the wider agricultural development agenda for South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is common knowledge that all learning has value, and the institution accepts the challenge to assess prior learning. Institutions ensures tha alignment of the qualifications and award credit (through CAT) to promote lifelong learning. The purpose of the institution's RPL and CAT policy is to recognise prior learning for admission to qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules using the principles and processes that serve as the basis for RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 5, 120 Credits

• Introductory Animal Science 101 and 102, 25 Credits.
• Farm Management 101 and 102, 20 Credits.
• Agricultural Engineering 101 and 102, 25 Credits.
• Numerical and Academic Literacy 1, 15 Credits.
• Soil Science 101, 12 Credits.
• Veld Management 102, 13 Credits.
• Computer Science, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 6, 200 Credits

• Large stock production 201, 202 and 203, 40 Credits.
• Small stock production 201, 202 and 203, 40 Credits.
• Farm management 201, 202, 20 Credits, 20 Credits.
• Water management 201, 10 Credits, 10 Credits.
• Veld management 202, 10 Credits.
• Animal production processes WIL and Comprehensive Farm plan 301, 40 Credits.
• Farm Management 301, 10 Credits.
• Natural resource management 301, 30 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 7, 40 Credits

• Advanced animal production processes 301, 20 Credits.
• Farm Management 302, 20 Credits.

• Apply animal production practices to ensure the quality, and profitability of livestock on a farm. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan incorporates appropriate animal production practices to ensure the quality, and profitability of livestock.
• Design and implement an integrated animal production project that improves and sustains animal production and the livelihood of the farmer. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan incorporates appropriate practices that improves and sustains animal production and the livelihood of the farmer.
• Apply the principles of veld management in practice to ensure sustainable animal production, workable fodder flow program and prevention of bush encroachment. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan incorporates appropriate veld management in practice to ensure sustainable animal production, workable fodder flow program and prevention of bush encroachment.
• Apply the principles of animal nutrition and feeding to ensure optimal and profitable production of animal products. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan incorporates appropriate protocols and practices for animal nutrition.
• Apply the principles of breeding and selection to ensure optimal and profitable production of animal products. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan incorporates modern ideas and practices for breeding and stock enhancement.
• Apply the principles of Animal Health Care to ensure optimal and profitable production of animal products. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan addresses all relevant animal health issues.
• Implement and integrate, sustainable agri-business management plan by applying business principles trough utilising agricultural, financial, marketing and production information. Criteria: Comprehensive farm plan would result in a financially sustainable agricultural enterprise.
• Demonstrates an understanding of relevant ethical issues and the implementation of best practices in animal welfare.
• Access, process, manage and evaluate information through appropriate tools.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner.

• Be aware of a range of methods and be able to select an appropriate method for a particular problem.
• Show an understanding of how to produce knowledge in the discipline.
• Appreciate that there may be several ways of knowing and that knowledge advances.
• Select an appropriate method for a particular problem.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the discourse required.
• Understand that their actions will have consequences, and their decisions will follow ethical and moral principles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of relevant ethical issues and the implementation of best practices in animal welfare.
• Demonstrate sound ethical and professional practices.
• Evaluate and use available tools for accessing, processing and managing information appropriately.
• Compare and use available tools for data analysis appropriately to address the question.
• Evaluate and use available tools for written and spoken communication appropriately based on the audience.
• Apply knowledge in familiar conditions and learn how to use and apply existing knowledge and skills under new conditions.
• Ensure the comprehensive farm plan takes a systems approach and successfully links the individual components.
• Become independent learners who can assess their own needs.
• Develop academic independence and manage their learning.
• Learn responsibility when they work in groups, meet deadlines and follow rules of the institution.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment serves multiple purposes, including allowing staff and learners to monitor learners' progress and determining the extent to which the learners are achieving the stated outcomes. Assessment will be integrated into the curriculum and will include a balance of formative and summative tools. In the first year, testing will be regular, and learners will be encouraged to understand that this is a tool by which they should judge their progress. First tests will be scheduled early enough in the term to allow staff to identify at-risk learners.

In the third-year, WIL will be through oral presentations, written reports and the Comprehensive Farm Plan.

At first and second-year levels, all summative assessments will go through internal moderation. At exit level in the third year, all summative assessment and at least 50% of formative assessments will be moderated by an external examiner.