Course code Vete2017
Credit points 1.50
Total Hours in Course40
Number of hours for lectures12
Number of hours for seminars and practical classes8
Independent study hours20
Date of course confirmation18.05.2011
Responsible UnitInstitute of Food and Environmental Hygiene
Professional programme(līm.)
second level professional higher educational programme(līm.)
LauZ1019, Forage Production and Animal Nutrition I
LauZ2028, Forage Production and Animal Nutrition II
Vete2016, Animal and Environmental Hygiene I
Vete4104, Forage Production and Animal Nutrition III
Vete6022, Physiology I
Vete6023, Physiology II
Students are learning about animal welfare, hygiene and biosecurity principals in farms. During the year several animal species is being reviewed.
Knowledge about animal house microclimate physical, chemical and biological components, drinking water and animal feed quality – test. Working skills with instructions of animal welfare which are developed by Food and veterinary service and the Ministry of agriculture – analyse 2 articles. Competences to assess animal welfare indices at the animal farms – practical work.
1. Introduction about animal welfare, hygiene, history
2. Climate, microclimate in farm, safe food; practical work - 5 welfare freedoms
3. Biosecurity meaning and principles
4. Animal welfare, hygiene in Latvia and EU legislation; practical work – Animal protection law
5. Welfare of cows;
6. Cow welfare indicators in farm; practical work – planning of farm biosecurity and layout
7. Welfare of calves
8. Welfare of sheeps; practical work – tail docking in lambs
9. Welfare of goats
10. Welfare of horses; practical work – food quality and it’s meaning in animal health
11. Welfare of laying hens and broiler chickens
12. Welfare of geese and ducks; practical work – welfare of ostrich
13. Animal welfare in slaughterhouses
14. Welfare of pigs; practical work – air quality and meaning in animal health
15. Feeding of pigs
16. Final test; practical work – journal club
Successfully completed final test and 2 summaries from articles. Absence of lectures and practical works are not more than 30% of the total number of lessons.
Students need to find 2 articles about animal welfare or hygiene and write a summary. In the end of the semester students present them orally.
Student skills are assessed in accordance with the procedures specified in the tasks of the practical work.
Study course tests are evaluated in accordance with the criteria of the 10-point system scale indicated in the LLU Study Regulations.
To get the final grade of the study course "passed", final test and KEGA work must be evaluated with a successful grade.
1. Lindberga Z. Higiēna. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1991. 367 lpp. 2. Labas lauksaimnīcas prakses nosacījumi Latvijā. Latvijas Republikas Zemkopības ministrija. Rīga, 2008. 66 lpp. 3. Wathes C. M., Corr S. A., May S. A., McCulloch S. P., Whiting M. C. Veterinary & Animal ethics. Wiley-Blckwell, 2013. 315 p. 4. Green M. Dairy Herd Health. UK: University of Nottingham, 2012.
1. Guide to good dairy farming practice. Animal Production and Health Guidelines. No. 8. Rome. Pieejams: http://www.fao.org/3/ba0027e/ba0027e00.pdf 2. Yeates J. Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. 206 p. 3. Siliņa A., Arbidāns D., Jonkus D., Keidāne D., Piļiena K. Kazkopības rokasgrāmata. Ozolnieki, 2015. 76 lpp.
1. http://www.oie.int/
2. https://likumi.lv/
3. AWIN welfare protocols
Compulsory course of study programme Veterinary medicine.