VSC112 Animal Behaviour and Welfare 1 (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Animal and Vet Science (ANVET)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
Animal welfare is an important and emotional issue that affects Australian animal industries, as well as companion animal owners and research establishments. Humans have an ethical responsibility to provide adequate care for animals under their control, and veterinarians have particular obligations and responsibilities in this area. In VSC112 Animal Behaviour and Welfare, students study contemporary welfare issues, advances in animal welfare science as well as in animal behaviour, handling and management and their interactions. As background, the history of domestication and the ontogeny of animal behaviour in various domestic species will be studied. Ethological concepts will be developed including the environmental, physiological and psychological bases for behaviour, both normal and abnormal. The importance of health, and its veterinary aspects, will be emphasized. Definitions and assessments of welfare will be discussed as well as Codes of Practice, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the role of Animal Care and Ethics Committees utilising current welfare issues. Issues surrounding euthanasia and the humane destruction of animals will also be explored, as will emerging issues and developments in both Australia and overseas.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 2 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Wagga Wagga |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: VSC112
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Enrolment restrictions:
Requires Special Permission from the subject coordinator if the student is not a Veterinary Science or Animal Science student.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Recognise normal and abnormal behaviour of animals and describe common behavioural problems in domestic and captive wildlife species.
- Collect and use behavioural data for research.
- Understand how animal welfare is defined and assessed.
- Recognise the behavioural, physiological and psychological requirements for adequate welfare of different domestic animal species.
- Understand the interaction between livestock behaviour, management and welfare.
- Discuss welfare issues in different domestic species.
- Recognise the importance of health to behaviour and management.
- Describe management protocols currently available to prevent or alleviate behavioural or related production problems.
- Describe the roles of welfare bodies and the Animal Care and Ethics Committees in teaching and research.
- Familiarity with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the different animal welfare Codes of Practice and minimum standards and best practice requirements.
- Describe circumstances where euthanasia might be appropriate and describe the available methods for different animal species.
- Familiarity with current and emerging concerns and developments in Australia and elsewhere.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Module 1: Animal behaviour - Introduction, organisation, concepts, terminology - Principles of animal behaviour - Adaptiveness of behaviour - Behavioural development - Animal learning and cognition - Measuring behaviour - Animal behaviour research Module 2: Animal welfare, including management and husbandry considerations - History and concepts in animal welfare - Horses - Beef cattle - Dairy cattle - Sheep - Pigs - Poultry - Zoos - Companion animals - Fish Module 3: Animal welfare in society - Ethical treatment of animals - Euthanasia- decisions and perspectives - Health and welfare - People and animals - Legislation and requirements - Economic impact
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.