Farm Animal Environment

HUS111

This course covers the following main themes:

animal welfare and norms for designing livestock rooms
motivation and learning, behavior and rank in livestock animals
livestock animals adjustment to varying thermic environments
heat and moisture balance, gases, dust, light and sound in livestock animal rooms
design solutions, grouping design and space requirements for different livestock animals
laws, regulations and recommendations for livestock keeping

Upon successful completion of the course, the student:

Knowledge:

has thorough knowledge of stocking conditions, space requirements and environment of livestock animals
has knowledge of the natural behavior needs and social relations of livestock animals
has thorough knowledge of livestock animals' environment, including the gas, dust, bacteria, light and sound content of air as well as thermic conditions
has knowledge of key research and development work in the field
has knowledge of regulations and recommendations for the keeping of livestock

Skills:

can conduct behavioural studies to study animals' time budgets and preferences
can apply relevant measuring equipment to map indoor climate in livestock animal buildings
can calculate heat and moisture balance in an isolated livestock animal room
can interpret and assess measurement results and draw reasoned conclusions

General competence:

has insight in livestocks' requirements to its environment and in how factors affecting and deciding the social and physical environment for the animals can be registered and assessed
can exchange views on how place allocation, indoor climate and the rest of the environment affects livestocks' production, health and welfare
can communicate professional literature that is of relevance to the livestock's environment and contribute to professional discussions in the field.eld

No tuition fees. Semester fees and cost of course literature apply.

Compulsory

Lectures and exercises. Group exercises. The exercises take place on nearby farms and at Mære agricultural school, in addition to the regular teaching facilities.

Evaluation using mid-term and final surveys. Students are also encouraged to participate in the central quality surveys.

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

HUS1000 - Livestock Environment and Welfare - 7.5 credits