Basics of Animal Production and Farm Animal Welfare (5cr)

Objective

The students are familiar with the duties at different stages of production cycles. They can assess animal welfare. They are familiar with the most usual housing systems and the technology used in management of housing conditions, manure handling and milking. They can make a summary and find information about the central legislation concerning animal welfare.

Content

Duties connected to different stages of production cycles, farm animal behaviour and handling, interaction between animal and its environment, assessment of farm animal welfare, housing systems and management of housing conditions, technology in manure handling and milking, legislation concerning animal welfare, basics of anatomy and physiology connected to above-mentioned issues.

Materials

Christiansen, J.P. 2005. The basics of pig production
Marcussen , D. & Krog Laursen, A. 2008. The basics of dairy cattle production
Other material announced by teachers.

Teaching methods

Lectures, assignments and demonstations

Student workload

Totally 133 h. Scheduled studies 65 h and autonomous studying 70 h.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students can explain the most important duties at different stages of production cycles. They can list factors affecting farm animal welfare. They can recognize the most usual housing systems and technological solutions used. They can find information about the central legislation concerning animal welfare.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students can explain the principles of the care of the animals at the different stages of production cycles. They can name the factors affecting the interaction between an animal its housing environment and explain their significance on animal welfare. They can explain the differences between different housing systems and technological solutions. They can make a summary about the central contents of legislation concerning animal welfare.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students can compare different technological solutions and evaluate their suitability in different situations. They can compare the practical conditions of animals with the contents of legislation concerning animal welfare. They can evaluate and justify the effects of production conditions on the production result, animal health and welfare.