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ANSC40350

Academic Year 2024/2025

Animal Welfare & Society (ANSC40350)

Subject:
Animal Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor John O'Doherty
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Optimizing animal welfare has always been a concern for animal scientists and is of increasing importance in society today from a broader perspective extending to consumers. At the heart of sustainable animal production systems are livestock whose needs are met from a behavioral and welfare standpoint. We have a duty of care to all livestock and compromised welfare impacts right across the food chain from effects on the animal, its capacity for production and its immune system to enterprise efficiency, trade and ultimately the acceptability of animal production systems. All animal scientists require a solid foundation in the core principles of farm animal behavior and welfare as well as an understanding of the emerging science underpinning the sectoral efforts to optimize animal welfare. This module will incorporate exposure to the latest technologies to measure and improve animal welfare, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and aspects of social science to effects behavioral change in this space.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- Explain the main concepts in farm animal behavior and welfare
- Explain the current issues relating to animal welfare in different species
- Display an appreciation of comprehension of animal welfare legislation in the EU in a global context
- Appreciate the scientific basis of animal learning and cognition
- Illustrate ways to evaluate farm animal welfare and strategies for improvement
- Outline the role of animal welfare in sustainability
- Discuss existing technologies to monitor farm animal welfare and the potential of AI to improve welfare
- Extrapolate on the importance of integrating social science dimensions to promote change

Indicative Module Content:

This module will consist of a blend of lectures from UCD staff and guest lecturers to develop the required competencies.


Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Conversation Class

10
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be delivered through the UCD VLE system and practical tutorials that will consist of:

• Lectures (including guest lectures)
•Practical tutorials and peer-to-peer work
•Individual and group online presentations
• Asynchronous discussion threads led by tutors

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): An online MCQ based on teaching materials Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

70

 No
Group Work Assignment: Students will write a document on a welfare topic of interest but from the perspective of a given stakeholder – e.g. Industry/Farmer/Consumer etc; and have to constructively critique each others work Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

10

 No
Individual Project: Student will write a report on a chosen welfare issue in a style suitable for media publication Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

10

 No
Reflective Assignment: Students will reflect on their learning journey and competencies improved as a result of this module Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

10

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

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