Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

This module considers the problems associated with the definition, measurement and scientific investigation of animal welfare, and evaluates the relative importance of measurements of behaviour and physiological traits associated with stress and pain in the assessment of animal welfare. The influence of genetics and environment on normal and abnormal behavioural development is also critically discussed. A large proportion of this module will also present the scientific basis for the modification of animal behaviour as a way of improving animal welfare. In addition, the module will consider and debate the use of domesticated animals (farm, companion and laboratory) from an ethical and legal stand point. It will consider the major ethical theories relating to how moral judgements are made as well as the history of attitudes to wild and domesticated animals.

The module will cover the following topics along with associated material: discussion of problems in the definition of welfare and the design of welfare assessment schemes; evaluation of the relative roles of behavioural and physiological measurements in the assessment of welfare, including the links between behavioural and physiological measures used in the assessment of stress and pain; human-animal interactions and their effects on animal performance; learning theory and its applications in the training of animals and the correction of behavioural problems; preference tests and their design and interpretation; 'natural behaviour’, changes in behaviour during domestication and their relationship to trainability and welfare; temperament tests and their applications; genetic selection for behavioural traits; abnormal behaviours and their treatment; the theory and application of the ethical matrix as a framework for ethical analysis; the development of human attitudes to animals; the ethics of animal experimentation and biotechnology, including a consideration of the relevant legislation; scientific fraud, its consequences and detection; the legal framework surrounding the use of animals with particular reference to the Animals Act 1971.