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  3. Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare (ANSC90007)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
May
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On completion of the subject, students should have sound and broad understanding of the systems regulating body function and the behavioural and physiological responses utilised by animals in responding to environmental change. From this theoretical base, students should develop an appreciation of the scientific approaches available to assess animal welfare. Furthermore, students should understand the concepts of animal welfare and be aware of the main welfare issues confronting animals in modern livestock production systems and other captive animal settings.

Specific topics covered include:

  • The current debate about animal usage and animal welfare
  • Systems regulating the body (homeostasis, motivation and control systems, and development of regulatory systems)
  • Limits to adaptation (stimulation, tolerance and coping, variation in adaptation)
  • Stress and welfare (Selye's concept of stress and refinements to the concept, coping and fitness, definition of welfare and its assessment)
  • Assessing welfare using short- and long-term biological responses
  • Assessing welfare using preference testing
  • Assessing welfare by studying cognitive skills
  • Ethical problems concerning welfare
  • Welfare issues in agriculture and the general community
  • Codes of practice for the welfare of livestock and welfare solutions

This subject runs in alternate years.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:


  • Outline the systems regulating body function and the behavioural and physiological responses utilised by animals in responding to environmental change
  • Compare and contrast the concepts of animal welfare, and the scientific approaches used to assess animal welfare
  • Identify the main welfare issues confronting animals in modern livestock production systems and other captive animal settings
  • Outline current debate about animal usage and animal welfare, and the ethical problems concerning animal welfare
  • Assess the welfare of animals in captivity
  • Provide sound science-based advice on animal welfare practices to industry, interest groups and the public

Generic skills

  • A profound respect for truth, intellectual and professional integrity, and the ethics of scholarship
  • Develop problem solving skills, sharpen analytic skills
  • Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning and research
  • Develop the ability to work as a team member
  • An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social, technical or economic information from primary and other sources
  • Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
  • Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
  • Highly developed computer - based skills to allow for effective online learning and communication
  • Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community

Last updated: 10 November 2023