AGS 432 Sect 1 Fall 06Syllabus M&W – 9:00 – 9:50
Sheep and Goat Science
General InformationInstructor: / Dr. Elizabeth Walker
Office: / Room 207 Karls Hall
Phone: / Office: 836-5087
Office Hours / I will be around most of the time so feel free to stop by.
M-Th: 1:00 to 3:00, by appointment, or just come by
Email /
Textbook / To Be Determined
Course Description
This course will give students the fundamentals of sheep and goat science. Emphasis will be placed on skills needed to successfully operate a sheep or goat farm. Naturally, we will not be able to cover all that is needed, and some is just learned the old fashioned way – trial and error / experience.
Student Responsibilities
- Attend and participate in class.
- Bring up topics or experiences that are relevant to the subject.
- Be prompt and professional with all assignments.
- Listen to instructor and to other students and refrain from individual conversations.
- Turn off all cell phones and other devices which may be a distraction. Points will be deducted from final grade if your cell phone rings.
- Turn in assignments on time.
- Be an active learner. Ask questions!!!
Goals and Objectives
1. To appreciate the history/ origins of sheep and goats.
2. To have a basic understanding of sheep / goats reproduction, nutrition, health, genetics, etc.
3. To be able to apply basic knowledge of sheep and goat science to real life situations.
4. To appreciate the impact of sheep and goats to the rural economy.
5. To eliminate the myths associated with sheep and goats (they are not “range maggots!!”
Walkers Top 7 List:
7. Homework is due as you walk into class or before. No late homework’s will be accepted.
6. Format for homework: typed, 1½ line spacing, 1½ “ margins. Name, date, and assignment description on top of front page (single spaced), staple multiple pages.
5. My door is always open. Swing by for whatever reason.
4. Let me know if you are going to be absent to class time. The best route is in via an email. You are still not excused from missed quizzes.
3. Cell phones!!! Turn them off. This is your first and final warning. Each incidence of a cell phone ringing or in other ways disrupting class or annoying me, will result in 5 points off of your total points for the class. If I cannot tell whose cell phone went off, the whole class gets 5 points off. I mean it!!
2. If you are going to be absent during an exam time, let me know. If you have a reasonable excuse (school function, deathly ill, etc) you will be allowed to make up the exam within a reasonable time after the test date.
1. You will get out of this class what you put into it. This class is going to be fun if you come into it with the right attitude.
Missing Class
Students are expected to attend class; however, if for any reason the student is unable to attend class every effort should be made to contact the instructor and inform her of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture material.
There will be no make-ups. If there is going to be a conflict of time at any point contact me as soon as possible.
Grading
Grade Determination:
A / ≥ / 90%B / ≥ / 80%
C / ≥ / 70%
D / ≥ / 60%
F / ≤ / 50%
Grades will be assigned as a percent of the total accumulated points. 90% of the total is an A, 80% of the total is a B, etc. Percentages may decrease (88% = A) etc, but will never increase.
Tentative Grade Breakdown:
Quizzes:
You can expect a quiz every now and then.
Homework:
Some will be assigned.
Exams: There will be a total of 2 exams each worth about 100 points.
Participation:
I want this to be an open discussion class. I want well thought out questions, I want to present you with well thought out questions, though sometimes, I will throw out a few odd ball questions. Why? Because after you leave this class, and folks know you took a class on sheep and goats, you are going to be an anomaly. An oddball if you will. You will know something about a specie of livestock that few know much about. Therefore, you will be targets for oddball questions. Might as well be in practice.
Project: 300 Total Points
You will design a farm. You can have any animals/products on this farm that you like, but you must have sheep, goats or both. You will need to provide the following information:
Farm size, price per acre, fencing management and costs, shelters, feeding costs, management techniques and costs, labor, breed(s) and number of animals, predation management, other animal/products to be raised, marketing strategies, etc. You will turn in your farm management plan and then you will present your farm management plan to the class at the end of the semester. This plan needs to be presented as professionally as possible. Style and format will count. Your presentation will count as you final exam.
Project point breakdown – 175 – written
25 – partner score
100 – oral
50 from me
50 from class
Textbook:
Free one: Mead Goat Production Handbook
Not free one:
Go to About ASI, then to Order Materials
Sign-up for free goat material:
Discrimination and Disability Accommodation Policy
MSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head.
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Director, Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), . Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact Dr. Steve Capps, Director, Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787,
Statement on academic dishonesty
MSU is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following MSU’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at
and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.
Policy on Use of Cell Phones in Classes (JUST TURN IT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of Academic Affairs prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent mode and cannot be taken out during class. At the discretion of the instructor, exception to this policy is possible in special circumstances.
Sanctions for violation of this policy are determined by the instructor and may include dismissal from the class – see Class Disruption . In testing situations, use of cell phones or similar communication devices may lead also to a charge of academic dishonesty and additional sanctions under the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (
There are two appeal processes available to students. A sanction for class disruption may be appealed using the appeal process stated in the Class Disruption policy; however, a violation that involves a charge of academic dishonesty must be appealed using the process described in the Student Academic IntegrityPolicies and Procedures. Students have the right to continue attending class while an appeal is in progress.
Dropping a class:
It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. To drop a class anytime after the first week of classes, you must complete and turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center (see You do not need to obtain any signatures on thedrop slip. It does not need to be signed by your instructor, your advisor, or a department head. If you wish to withdraw from the University (i.e., drop all your classes), contact the RegistrationCenter, Carrington 320, 836-5522.
Faculty may also wish to include relevant drop deadlines. See Academic Calendars ( for deadlines.
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