PO 4324/6324
Avian Reproduction

General overview of class:

Avian reproductive physiology and its application to management of poultry for maximum reproductive performance will be discussed. Reproductive characteristics of several different species of birds will be examined; however, the broiler breeder will serve as the major discussion topic. This course will be divided into three major sections which are as follows: the male, the female, and combined sex topics (breeding and genetics, fertilization, embryonic development, fertility, hatchability, etc.). A basic biology approach will be utilized in both lecture and laboratory to explain applied agricultural science topics so that students may develop the independent thinking process.

There is no textbook for this class, so students will be expected to take notes during lecture. Not all test material will be written on the board, therefore students must pay attention during class and ask questions. Students that interrupt the class by talking during lecture will be removed from the classroom.

Testing:

Every other week during the semester, students will be given an opportunity to express the knowledge that they learned in class. To encourage studying throughout the semester and not just the night before the exams, short, 10 minute quizzes will be given approximately every 4 weeks of the semester and each will count for 4% of the total grade. Between each of the quizzes, 1 hour exams (4 total) will be given with each representing 16% of the total grade.

Every quiz and exam will be designed so that many different styles of questions are utilized. Defining questions, true or false questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions will each represented 20% of the points on every test. This testing style allows for a complete examination of the amount of knowledge that the student retains.

Laboratory:

The laboratory section of this class constitutes 24% of the grade earned. Each of the 15 lab meetings is worth 10 points. For a few lab meetings only attendance will be required to earn the 10 points; however, for most lab meetings a report must be turned in either at the end of the lab period or by the following lab period. Lab reports that are due at the beginning of the next lab period must be typed and include the following: an introduction describing what you did and the materials you used, a results section with computer generated graphs and analysis, and a discussion section that describes your interpretation of the results.

Point Distribution:

The grade earned by each student in this class will be determined by averaging the four 1 hour test grades, quiz grades, and lab as follows:

   			1st 10 minute quiz	   4%	=	  25 points
			1st 1 hour test		 16%	=	100 points
			2nd 10 minute quiz	   4%	=	  25 points
			2nd 1 hour test		 16%	=	100 points
			3rd 10 minute quiz	   4% 	=	  25 points
			3rd 1 hour test		 16%	=	100 points
			Lab			 24%	=	150 points
			Final Examination	 16%	=	100 points
			____________________________________________________________
        		Total			100%	=	625 points

Grades will be assigned on a 10 point scale.

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = <60

Graduate Student Requirement:

Graduate students will be required to write a literature review on a recent topic of interest in avian reproduction. The graduate students will then present this information before the class in the form of a 15-20 minute oral presentation. The written and oral presentation will each count 4% of the final grade or 25 points. Therefore the total points for graduate students will be 675 points.

NOTE: All students majoring in Poultry Science must maintain a C or better average in this class or no credit hours will be given.

Academic Misconduct

Cheating will not be tolerated. Students will be monitored during every test for cheating. Those found cheating will be subjected to all University rules and regulations regarding cheating, including an "F" in the course for the first academic misconduct offense.

Class Attendance

The University policy on class attendance will be strictly adhered to. Because there is no textbook for this class, students that do not attend class and lab regularly will ultimately fail. Makeup examinations and lab reports will only be given for excused absences, otherwise a zero grade will be given.

Outside of Classroom Assistance

My office is in room 213 of the Hill Poultry Science Building. My office phone number is 325-1839. If I am not in, leave a message on my voice mail.

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Last modified: Septemeber 16, 2005.
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