Applied Animal Behaviour

Subject DASC30005 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 29-Feb-2016 to 29-May-2016
Assessment Period End 24-Jun-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 11-Mar-2016
Census Date 31-Mar-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 06-May-2016


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Twenty-four hours lectures, up to 12 hours tutorials and 12 hours practicals to be undertaken at Parkville and off-site
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours.

Prerequisites:

One physiology subject at Level 2 such as:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge:

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Prof Paul Hemsworth

Contact

Email: phh@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject allows students to examine the behaviour of farm, companion and laboratory animals and highlights the processes and factors involved in cause and effect manipulating behavioural functionality. The subject will train students to describe, record and measure behaviour, examine the development of behaviour in a range of species; examine the effects of stimuli and communications; motivation, decision making, learning and memory; genetic and hormonal basis of behaviour; organisation, social, sexual, maternal, and dam-neonate interactions.

Topics covered include:

  • Describing, recording and measuring behaviour; development of behaviour
  • Stimuli and communication
  • Motivation and decision making
  • Learning and memory
  • Genetic influences on behaviour
  • Hormonal influences on behaviour
  • Organisation of behaviour
  • Social behaviour; sexual behaviour
  • Maternal behaviour and dam-neonate interactions; and behavioural problems
Learning Outcomes:

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

  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of animal behaviour, and identify factors that are essential in the humane care and efficient management of these domestic animals
  • Describe and examine the behaviour of farm, companion and laboratory animals
  • Demonstrate our understanding of the causation and function of behaviour
Assessment:
  • Up to two written assignments of not more than 1000 words each due in approximately Week 6 and Week 10 worth 50% in total
  • Two-hour end-of-semester exam which may include essay and short-answer sections worth 50%
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

  • Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare (D M Broom and A F Fraser), 4th edition CAB 2007
  • The Ethology of Domestic Animals. An Introductory Text. (P. Jensen), 2nd Edition CAB 2009
  • An Introduction to Animal Behaviour (A Manning and M S Dawkins), 6th edition Cambridge University Press 2012
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of the subject the students should have developed the following generic skills:

  • Academic excellence
  • Greater in-depth understanding of scientific disciplines of animal behaviour and its application to the humane care and efficient management of farm and companion animals
  • The student’s flexibility and level of transferable skills should be enhanced through improved time management and enhanced ability to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats
Notes:

This subject involves the use of animals. Students should be aware that this is an essential part of the course and exemption from this component is not possible.

Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Animal Disease Biotechnology (specialisation of Animal Health and Disease major)
Animal Science and Management
Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG.
Selective subjects for B-BMED

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