Applied Animal Behaviour

Subject DASC30005 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2014.

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:

(including non-contact time): 120 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 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/

Contact

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

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@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; and
  • 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; and
  • Demonstrate our understanding of the causation and function of behaviour.
Assessment:
  • 2-hour examination (end of semester), which may include essay and short-answer sections (50%)
  • Up to two written assignments of not more than 1000 words each (50%)
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:

  • Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare (A F Fraser and D M Broom), CAB International, 1990
  • The Ethology of Domestic Animals. An Introductory Text. (P. Jensen), CAB International, Oxon, U.K., 2002.
  • An Introduction to Animal Behaviour (A Manning and M S Dawkins), 4th edn, CUP, 1993
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.

Q Fever

Students enrolling in the Melbourne School of Land and Environment are advised that some courses of study may put them at an increased risk of contracting Q Fever. Q Fever is a relatively common preventable condition which, while rarely fatal, can cause a severe acute illness and can result in damage to heart valves and chronic fatigue. It is recommended that students consider undertaking screening and vaccination for Q Fever prior to commencement of study. Students may be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to undertaking some coursework. Your course coordinator will advise you of this requirement prior to commencement of the study semester. Vaccine costs for students are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, Medicare, or by the University. Some students with full private medical coverage (which has hospital and ancillary cover) may receive partial re-imbursement for vaccine costs.

Further information about Q Fever can be found at: http://www.land-environment.unimelb.edu.au/current-students/your-subjects/q-fever-information.html

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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