Animal Welfare

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

(including non-contact time): 170 hours.

Eligibility for honours or postgraduate degree.

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

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.

This subject only runs every alternate year.

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.

• One 2000 word written assignment due within two weeks after the delivery period (35%);
• 6 x group presentations during the delivery period up to an equivalent of 15 minutes per student (35%);
• and an individual 10 minute presentation and 500 written word abstract (30%).

N/A

• 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

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

N/A

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.

Q Fever

Students enrolling in this subject 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.