Animal Performance

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

60 hours in a total of 120 hours

A physiology subject at 200 level such as:

Recommended Background Knowledge:

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/

The aim of this subject is to enable students to develop skills and knowledge in exercise and environmental physiology in domestic and companion animals and to be able to apply this knowledge in management of the environment for improved animal performance.
The content includes a comparative overview of basic physiological processes important in exercise physiology and environmental adaptation such as circulation, gas exchange, electrolytes and water balance, heat production and thermoregulation; physiological and metabolic adaptations during exercise and training, including environmental effects on training management; diversity in environments and the nature of stress, including physical, psychological and nutritional factors; animal health specifically related to animal performance; and management of the environment including aspects of housing.

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

• understand how different animals cope with changing and diverse environments;
• understand the nature of stress and stressful environments;
• understand the nature of physiological regulation and adaptation;
• understand how management can influence the animal-environment interaction; and have developed experimental skills to study animal-environment interactions;
• understand the biomechanics of, and the physiological and metabolic adaptations occurring during, training and exercise
• understand the effects of environment on training management
• Understand the implications for animal health of improving animal performance

• One written assignment of not more than 2000 words (20% of final marks, due mid-semester),
• two written practical reports of not more than 1000 words each (20%),
• one written essay or short-answer style examination up to 3 hours (60% of final marks, end of semester).

N/A

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

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.

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 physiology and performance in a range of species. 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.