Module Details

Module Code: AGRI8016
Title: Animal Welfare Strategies
Long Title: Animal Welfare Strategies
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2021/22 ( September 2021 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 6210 - Agriculture
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module will provide a practical understanding of welfare and ethical issues connected with farm animals in terms of husbandry and on-farm research. Related topics such as animal husbandry, transport, slaughter, nutritional, behavioural and environmental factors will be explored. The use of statistical analysis tools in animal welfare and ethics, and interpretation of animal-related datasets will be practically applied to case studies.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Discuss the role of legislation at farm level in the promotion of animal health and welfare
LO2 Compare the manifestation, prevention and treatment strategies of common diseases in domestic animal species
LO3 Evaluate the role of key behavioural and environmental factors in the determination of animal health and welfare status
LO4 Apply appropriate animal welfare principles to critique and design experimental studies involving domestic animal species
LO5 Generate, analyse and interpret data sets applicable to experiments involving domestic animal species
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Animal Welfare Considerations
The Five Freedoms. Appropriate EU directives (i.e., 98/58/EC, 2010/63/EU) and Irish legislation (i.e., Animal Health and Welfare Acts 2013 and 2019, SI No 543 of 2012). Welfare assessment systems. Animal handling methods, safe transport mechanisms. Ethics at farm level. Consumer attitudes to welfare and animal products. Role of breeding and genetics in animal welfare.
Common Farm Diseases
Manifestations, prevention strategies and treatment options for diseases associated with farm environments and selected species, such as; campylobacterosis, PRSS, Q fever, ringworm, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, toxoplasmosis, lameness, leptospirosis, cryptosporidiosis, bovine viral diarrhoea, Johne’s disease, tuberculosis, fasciolosis.
Behavioural and Environmental Concerns
Biosecurity hazards. Role of nutrition, housing, handling and hygiene and potential impacts on animal welfare status. Observation and measurement of common animal behaviours in domestic animal species associated with positive (i.e., social interaction, exploration, body condition) and negative (i.e., increased aggression, apathy, failure in sexual behaviour, anxiety) welfare statuses.
Experimental Design
Animal ethics and use of the 3Rs, the scientific method, experimental design steps, confounding variables & bias, sampling size calculation, sampling methods, validation and control in experimental design. Appropriate usage of medicinal products (i.e., antibiotics, analgesics), anaesthetics and euthanasia on farm and in research studies.
Biostatistics
Use of statistical tools and methods for validation, quality control and interpretation, summary statistics, data distribution, normality testing, parametric and non-parametric inference testing, correlation and regression
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 60
Timing Every Second Week Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Critical analysis of relevant animal health and welfare case studies
Assessment Type Performance Evaluation % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 3,4,5
Assessment Description
Statistical analysis and interpretation of animal-related experimental designs and datasets
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Theory, concepts & case studies Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Self-directed learning/case study analysis Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Theory, concepts & case studies Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Self-directed learning/case study analysis Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Appleby et al.. (2018), Animal Welfare, 3rd. CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom, [ISBN: 9781786390202].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Baldi & Moore. (2017), Practice of Statistics in the Life Sciences, 4th. W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, United States, [ISBN: 9781319013370].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_SAGBI_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Agri-Biosciences 7 Mandatory