3 weeks theoretical course, including oral group examination. Animal welfare and livestock environment gives a basic introduction in animal welfare with emphasis on behavioral and health aspects of animal welfare, as well as animal ethics.

The course is joint for the veterinary medicine students and the veterinary nurse students.

Animal welfare will give the students a basic understanding of the veterinary, ethical and ethological basis for animal welfare, with emphasis on animal welfare in Norwegian livestock environments and companion animals.

Knowledge aims

After the end of exam in animal welfare the students shall know:

• Explain different definitions of animal welfare how the definitions influences our choice of welfare indicators.
• Explain the difference and connection between the terms Animal welfare, animal ethics and animal protection
• Explain important ethological terms with importance of the animals welfare.
• Account for health, physiological, cognitive, emotional and behavioral indicators of welfare status
• Explain welfare problems at production animals and companion animals.
• Account for the importance of the livestock environment i general terms, especially the connection between environment, health and welfare.
• Be able to describe the welfare consequences of breeding and genetic selection.
• Account for the vets and animal nurses roles and duties in animal welfare and protection issues
• Account for how humans can influence the animal welfare

Skill aim

The students should know:

• Read and understand subject material about animal welfare.
• Contribute to interpret animal welfare in induvidual- and group level, and know the limitations of such interpretations. 

General knowledge

The student should have an understanding for the complexity in the animal welfare concept. 

DYR213 - 5 ECTS ,

VET334 - 5 sECTS

Requirements for personal equipment

None 

HMS

No specific routines for this block