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701-0626-00L 2 Credits

Applied Ethology and Animal Welfare

Tierschutzorientierte Ethologie

Lecturers: Dr. Markus Stauffacher
Examiners: Dr. Markus Stauffacher, Prof. Dr. Barbara König, Dr. Peter Brauchli
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:09:45

Abstract

The course provides basic knowledge of behaviour (mechanisms, control) of farm, lab, pet, zoo & circus animals, and of interactions between behaviour, physiology, genetics/breeding, housing/nutrition and animal use. A special focus is set on the assessment of animal welfare and on legislation based on an appreciation of animal related, ethical, traditional, economical and political values.

Objective

With special focus on domestic animals, the students know, understand and are able to apply at the end of the course - the terms adaptation, overtaxed capacity to adapt, adaptive modification; - concepts of motivation, and of behavioural mechanisms and their control; - concepts of normal behaviour (statistical, normative), and of behavioural disorders and vices; - concepts of stress/chronic stress, and of coping; - the scientific basis of environmental enrichment; - consequences of trait specific breeding for health and behaviour performance; - scientific approaches to the assessment of animal welfare; - the process of appreciation of animal related, ethical, traditional, economical and political values in working out demands related to animal welfare; - the general aims and topics of modern animal protection legislation.

Content

Der Inhalt der Lehrveranstaltung basiert auf den Lehr- und Lernzielen. Wo während der Kontaktstunden Schwerpunkte gesetzt werden, und welche Themen verstärkt im Selbststudium (mit Tutorat) erarbeitet werden, ergibt sich aus der Interaktion mit den Studierenden. Kontaktstunden (incl. Tutorate): 24 Selbststudium (während Semester; u.a. Vorbereitung Lernkontrolle): 36 Lernkontrolle: Schriftlich, während zweitletzter Lehrveranstaltung.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Detaillierte Unterlagen werden abgegeben.

Literature

Literaturliste wird kommentiert und abgegeben.

General Information

Language
German
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Tierschutzorientierte Ethologie
  • Tue 13:15-15:00 (LFW B 1)
2 h weekly

Offered In