Applied Animal Behaviour

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

(including non-contact time): 170 hours.

One physiology subject at Level 2 such as:

Recommended Background Knowledge:

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

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.

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.

• 2-hour examination (end of semester), which may include essay and short-answer sections (50%)
• Up to two written assignments in week 6 and week 10 of not more than 1000 words each (50%)

• 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

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• 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 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

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 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.