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ANSC30130

Academic Year 2024/2025

Principles of Animal Health, Behaviour and Welfare (ANSC30130)

Subject:
Animal Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Trudee Fair
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is an undergraduate course designed for students who have basic knowledge of Animal Science.
The course consists of three components, namely animal health, behaviour and welfare that influence production/reproduction in farm and companion animals.
The behaviour section covers observation and analysis of behaviour, innate and learned behaviour; behaviour development; the effect of domestication/intensification on behaviour; ingestive, social, agonistic, sexual, parturient and maternal behaviour.
The welfare section is designed to give an understanding of the concepts of animal welfare and deals with legislation, historical perspective, ethical considerations, the five freedoms, stress and pain, welfare of farm animals and laboratory animals.
The health section discusses some of the major diseases and health issues that affect farm animals in Ireland such as neonatal mortality, respiratory disease of the bovine, lameness in cattle and sheep. Epidemiology of livestock diseases, national disease surveillance and new developments in health management are also covered.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
Explain/understand the different forms of animal behaviour.
Evaluate management decisions that influence/modify behaviour.
Explain the concepts of animal welfare and evaluate the welfare implications of various systems of animal production.
Contribute to the welfare debate on agricultural issues.
Apply the principles of disease control and prevention in practical situations and evaluate the economic implications of disease for animal production enterprises.

Indicative Module Content:

Principles of Animal Health, Behaviour & Welfare

Health
• Animal Health Introduction
• Animal Health in Ireland
• How to Raise Healthy Calves
• Lameness in sheep
• Sheep Health & Introduction to sheep preventive medicine
• Understanding infectious disease & disease investigation
• Farming today vaccine paper
• Disease in Livestock-A Practitioner's Perspective
• Metabolic diseases of the Transition Dairy Cow



Behaviour
• Ethology, ethograms and observation
• Behaviour and stockmanship
• Social behaviour and communication
• Abnormal behaviour, stereotypic behaviour
• Hierarchy; agonistic, avoidance, sexual behaviour
• Feeding behaviour, grazing, eating, drinking
• Foetal behaviour
• Neonatal and maternal behaviour, parturient behaviour, mother-offspring communication
• Behaviour and animal development
• Behavioural development / learned vs innate

Welfare
• Concepts of Animal Welfare
• Pig welfare
• Dairy Cow Welfare
• Equine Welfare
• Companion animal welfare
• Introduction to Animal Ethics
• Introduction to Learning Theory and Behaviour Modification Techniques
• EU legislation for Farm animal slaughter
• EU legislation for Farm animal transport

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Autonomous Student Learning

64
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module utilises a blend of teaching and learning approaches:
The content of the module is delivered primarily as face to face lectures, occasional use of eLectures may be necessary.
A rich resource of relevant published manuscripts, videos, links to video clips and extra learning material is provided.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
VNUR10270 - Principles of Animal Behaviour, VNUR20260 - Farm Animal Nursing , VNUR20350 - Animal Behavior and Welfare


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Multiple Choice Questionnaire:
Matched set and multiple choice questions on all Health, Behaviour and Welfare topics covered in the course.
 End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
80
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: In class exercises will be carried out ~weekly during the semester.
Activities will vary from individual to group work and range from short online quizzes and wordclouds, crosswords and reporting.		 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 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, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be delivered through different approaches such as oral in out of class meetings in person or over the phone, or written by email. An assessment rubric is available for the project.

Domestic Animal Behaviour and Welfare: Donald M. Broom,Andrew Ferguson Fraser - 2007
Domestic Animal Behavior for Veterinarians and Animal Scientists: Katherine A. Houpt - 2011

Name Role
Professor Alison Hanlon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Meta Osborne Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 16:00 - 17:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 29, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
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