Assessment and recording farm animal behaviour at Leahurst Farms e.g. Wood Park Dairy Farm and Ness Heath Rare Breeds Farm. Use of observational behavioural recording to quantify animal behaviour of groups and individuals. Students will evaluate the most appropriate method from continuous versus interval sampling and scan versus focal sampling. Validity of approach will be explored using inter- and intra-observer reliability tests. Behaviours measured on farm animals shall be related to their health and welfare status in the conext of animal management. For example activity monitoring, recognising signs of oestrous, recording of time budgets and aggressive behaviour or dominance status.

 

Appropriate handling of farm mammals for health checks with a veterinarian e.g. cows, pigs, sheep.

 

Performing health checks and post mortem on fish and understanding the care and husbandry of aquatic animals at Blue Planet Aquarium. Recognising signs of abnormal behaviour, morphology and disease diagnosis through lectures and through observing fish in situ.

 

Evaluation of environmental enrichment and enclosure design at Chester Zoo, and recording zoo animal behaviour to identify behaviours linked to welfare (e.g. stereotypies). Students will use all the skills they have learned and choose a species to evaluate where they can relate behaviour to enrichment and how the enclosure reflects the natural habitat.