AN 133 - Animal Handling, Welfare and Ethics

3 Credits

This course is an introduction to livestock handling and restraint. Efficient and low-stress handling techniques are presented and demonstrated to promote safety of both the handler and livestock. Students are required to work with herds and flocks during the lab sessions to gain confidence and proficiency. Theory and practical experience are learned regarding livestock facilities and handling as well.   Along with discussions on the responsibilities of livestock care providers, the topic of animal welfare is introduced and current issues are debated in class. Welfare and ethics discussions focus on production issues, but may also include the recreation, research, draft, and companion animal industries.

Rationale:

This is a required course for Agricultural Sustainability, the Beef, Dairy, and Livestock major of Animal Science Technology, the Animal Science stream of General Agriculture and for Livestock stream of the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Agriculture Production programs. It is important that students obtain a hands-on experience with regard to safe and humane methods of handling livestock. This course is a foundation for advanced courses where restraining, relocating and humane treatment of livestock are required.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

1. demonstrate safe and low-stress restraint and handling of livestock.
2. identify stressors and abnormal behaviour patterns in livestock and implement solutions to alleviate these problems.
3. develop a livestock handling system that incorporates new theories and technologies with relevance to low-stress handling.
4. recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to livestock handling, welfare and ethics and describe their role in the industry.
5. communicate effectively with different organized groups in animal welfare.

Texts (1 or 2):

(1) Grandin, T., & Deesing, M.  (2008). Humane livestock handling.  North Adams,

MA.:  Storey Publishing.

(2) Grandin, T. (2017). Temple Grandin’s guide to working with farm animals: safe,

humane livestock handling practices for the small farm. Storey Publishing.

Texts (1 or 2):

(1) Grandin, T., & Deesing, M.  (2008). Humane livestock handling.  North Adams,

MA.:  Storey Publishing.

(2) Grandin, T. (2017). Temple Grandin’s guide to working with farm animals: safe, humane

livestock handling practices for the small farm. Storey Publishing.

National Farm Animal Care Council. (2012) Codes of practice for the care and handling of

farm animals.

Reference Texts

Grandin, T. (Ed.). (2010). Improving animal welfare: a practical approach. CABI.

Optional Resource Materials:
None

Conduct of Course:

42 hours of lecture (approximate)

28 hours of scheduled lab time for Animal Science Technology, students may be required to schedule additional lab time to master competency if required.

The lecture time involves note taking, videos, guest lectures and discussion. The lab portion involves individual or group work with assigned livestock to complete required tasks. Students must have a lab monitor present when working with their animal (unless stated otherwise by the instructor), and must never work alone with an animal outside of class time.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports.

1. Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
2. An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another Instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:
 

Labs

(Subject to change upon availability of facilities)

Evaluation procedures are outlined below and may be subject to minor changes with the consent of students.