Animal Welfare

Subject DASC90012 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

October, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

This subject runs for two weeks in October.


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 58 hours
Total Time Commitment: 90 hours
Prerequisites: Eligibility for honours or postgraduate degree.
Corequisites: N/A
Recommended Background Knowledge: N/A
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Paul Hemsworth

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Land & Food Resources (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

On completion of the course, 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; and
  • codes of practice for the welfare of livestock and welfare solutions.
Objectives:

The subject aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of animal welfare and ethics that can be applied to provide sound, science-based advice on animal welfare practices to industry, interest groups and the public, to be proactive in dealing with public sentiment, and be able to assess the welfare of animals in captivity.

Assessment:
  • Informal class presentations (up to 5) (30%),
  • Seminar presentation (30%), and
  • One written paper of up to 1000 words (worth 40%).
Prescribed Texts: N/A
Recommended Texts:
  • Stress & Animal Welfare (D M Broom and K G Johnson), Chapman & Hill, 1993
  • Farm Animal Behaviour & Welfare (A F Fraser D M and Broom), CABI, 1990
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: N/A
Notes:

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

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours)
Bachelor of Animal Science and Management with Honours
Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)
Master of Animal Science

Download PDF version.