Aims

Understanding how a healthy domestic animal is behaving, and how to understand it.

Main themes

1. Ethology
definitions and the four questions of Tinbergen;
history;
behavioural mechanisms (innate and acquired);
evolution of behaviour (domestication effect).

These notions are illustrated with examples related to domestic animals and Veterinary Medicine.

2. Ethograms
General characteristics of the behaviour of most domestic species are presented, and the students are making aware of the veterinary applications.

3. Questions about Veterinary Ethology and Animal Welfare
The potential applications of Ethology to improve animal welfare is discussed during seminars based on a student group work.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Written notes:

Powerpoint presentation.


Assessment:

Evaluation of the group work during seminars.
Oral examination with preliminary preparation.


Contacts:

University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production (Veterinary Ethology and Animal Welfare)

Bd de Colonster, 20 Bât. B43, 4000 Liège
tél.: 32/(0)4/366.41.48
GSM: 32/(0)474/74.84.08
fax.: 32/(0)4/366.41.22
email: Marc.Vandenheede@ulg.ac.be

Other credits in programs