Program Overview

ASC525 Domestic Animal Behaviour

Domestic animals live in a profoundly different habitat to their wild ancestors and in many cases their appearance and behaviour have changed substantially. In some cases the behaviour of domestic animals can be understood only in light of the evolutionary history of the species, yet in other cases, the actions of domestic species are not part of the natural species-specific behaviour at all. Distinguishing between these possibilities is important in identifying situations in which a domestic animal may be under stress or its welfare compromised.

Subject Outlines

Subject Outlines and assessment tasks are updated each session.

Availability

The subject is available in Session 2, with 60 students, and is offered online and at the Wagga Wagga Campus.

Subject Information

Grading System

The grading system for this subject is HD/FL.

Duration

The subject is one session in duration.

School

The subject is offered by the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Enrolment Restrictions

This subject is for students in an approved Masters or Postgraduate Level Courses. It may also be undertaken by students in the Bachelor of Animal Science and Bachelor of Equine Science courses as electives, following approval by the subject and course coordinators.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to explain in detail the importance of domestication, physiology, motivation, learning, social behaviour and human-animal relations to domestic animal behaviour;
• be able to describe the importance of abnormal behaviour and stress to animal welfare;
• be able to recognise behavioural indicators of positive and negative welfare state;
• be able to conduct, interpret and present animal behaviour research; and
• be able to describe the origin, social behaviour, foraging and feeding, mating, care and management of some of the major domestic species.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Topic 1: Introduction to domestic animal behaviour
• Topic 2: Origin of domestic animals
• Topic 3: Measuring behaviour
• Topic 4: Social behaviour
• Topic 5: Foraging and feeding
• Topic 6: Mating behaviour and care of offspring
• Topic 7: Management and welfare
• Topic 8: Behaviour Genetics, Evolution and domestication
• Topic 9: Behaviour and Physiology
• Topic 10: Motivation
• Topic 11: Learning and Cognition
• Topic 12: Social and Reproductive behaviour
• Topic 13: Abnormal behaviour, stress and welfare
• Topic 14: Human-Animal relations