Module Information

Module Identifier

RS33510

Module Title

APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR AND WELFARE

Academic Year

2008/2009

Co-ordinator

Dr Basil T Wolf

Semester

Semester 2

Course Delivery

Delivery Type	Delivery length / details
Lecture	2 x 1 hour lectures per week
Seminars / Tutorials	4 x 3 hour seminars per semester

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Practical assessment of animal welfare	50%
Semester Assessment	Essay	50%
Supplementary Exam	2 Hours	100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Interpret a range of normal behaviours for companion, farm and captive animal species, which are explained in terms of their evolution, development and underlying control.

2. Objectively quantify behaviour

3. Recognise 'Abnormal' behaviours and explain them in terms of cause, function and overlying motivation.

4. Understand the concepts of stress and animal welfare.

5. Understand current animal welfare legislation.

6. Apply current methods of animal welfare assessment to a practical situation.

7. Understand common welfare and behavioural problems of companion and farm animals and explain methods for their control.

Brief description

This module will provide an insight into the behaviour of farm, zoo and companion animal species, with particular reference to the evolution, development and underlying control of behaviour. The objective measurement of behaviour will be studied, and an emphasis placed on understanding and recognising 'normal' and 'abnormal' behaviour. The causes and function of abnormal behaviour will also be discussed. The concept of animal welfare will be introduced and current welfare legislation outlined. Welfare problems commonly found within the domestic or captive environment will be identified and put in the context of current husbandry techniques with particular attention to strategies for their control. The module will also deal with the concept of stress, its measurement and how this relates to animal welfare.

Module Skills

Skills Type	Skills details
Communication	Students will be required to present information precisely and concisely in a clear and informative manner. Oral discussions and presentations will form part of the module.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Students will have to manager their own time in developing the assignment.
Information Technology	To complete the asignment, students will have to obtain information from a variety of sources including books and websites. This will involve the use of IT to compile the finished report, as well as retrieving relevant information (eg Voyager).
Research skills	Students' ability to work independently and solve problems will be developed by the assignment.

Reading List

Alcock J (1993) Animal behaviour - an evolutionary approach 5th Primo search Appleby M C and Hughes B O (eds) (1997) Animal welfare CABI Primo search Carlson, N R (2001) Physiology of behaviour 7th Primo search Cooper J R, Bloom F E and Roth R H (1982) The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology Primo search Fraser, A F & Broom, D M (1990) Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare 3rd Bailliere Tindall Primo search Lawrence A B and Rushen J (1993) Stereotopic animal behaviour CABI Primo search McFarland D (1993) Animal behaviour 2nd Longman Primo search Wade C and Tavris C (1993) Psychology Primo search Wood-Gush, D G M (1983) Elements of ethology Chapman and Hall Ltd Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6