This unit provides an overview of the major Tasmanian animal production systems and how they fit within the broader Australian and worldwide contexts. Students use systems thinking to explore the variety of strategies that growers use meet their production targets. These include decisions around production intensification, husbandry, genetic tools, feed base and niche market opportunities.  Students learn how animal health, welfare and nutrition impact product quantity and quality and explore the impact of grower management decisions along the value chain. Excursions to commercial animal production enterprises enable students to see the real-life complexities of these growing systems and to interact with well-established Tasmanian producers. Students apply their systems-based thinking by comparing the visited enterprises, designing a stock management plan and verbally communicating about a contemporary aspect of animal production. Understanding how the many system elements can impact production and preparing management plans prepares students for undertaking further animal studies (including production animal research) or working in many industry roles including as growers, consultants, extension officers and processors.