Physiology, Ethology and Welfare

Total Hours in Course81

Independent study hours81

Date of course confirmation20.04.2011

Responsible UnitPreclinical Institute

Course developers

prof.

Aija Ilgaža

Dr. med. vet.

Preklīniskais institūts

Sintija Jonova

Ph.D.

Prior knowledge

Vete2013, Anatomy of the Domestic Animals I

Vete2014, Anatomy of the Domestic Animals II

Vete4035, Cytology, Histology and Embryology I

Vete6022, Physiology I

Course abstract

Practice is required to give students the opportunity to improve the practical skills in determining the basic physiological characteristics of different species of animals, to analyze animal behaviour, and to evaluate the welfare of animals present at the practice site under the guidance of a practicing veterinarian.
Practices provide the opportunity to supplement the knowledge, skills and competences acquired in lectures and practical work of physiology, ethology and the study courses of different animal breeding (e.g. pig farming, cattle breeding, sheep breeding, etc.).

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - about the basic physiological processes and their characterizing basing indicators in animals, their behaviour and welfare. Control - practice diary and report. Skills - to evaluate practical skills in determining the basic physiological parameters of the body of different animal species, to analyze animal behaviour, and to evaluate the place of practice. Control - practice diary and report. Competence - to apply the acquired knowledge about the physiological parameters and behaviour in the evaluation of the animal's physiological state. Be able to analyze and justify how the relevant welfare requirements affect the animal organism and productivity. Control - practice diary and report.

Course Content(Calendar)

Practice lasts for two weeks. During the practice, students have to complete the following tasks: 1. Get acquainted with the work organization at the practice site. 2. Improve practical skills in the determination of basic physiological indicators for animals of different species. 3. Analyze animal behavior and changes due to various welfare and physiological factors. 4. Analyze one clinical case or problem situation from a physiological, ethological and welfare point of view. Entries in the practice diary should be written every day of practice! In the diary register all the animals examined or the groups of animals examined are summarized and briefly described as well as the obtained information and acquired skills during the practice.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment of the acquired knowledge and skills during the practice (test with a mark) is carried out: on the basis of a practice diary, a practice report (implementation and analysis of all five tasks!) and a review about the student's work (i.e. the characteristics), which is written in the practice placement by the manager at the place of practice. Defending the practice takes place according to a strictly defined calendar plan. The final assessment of the practice (test with a mark) after the defence of the practice report is not changed anymore.
If unfulfilled amount of absences more than 10% of the total duration of the practice, then the practice must be repeated.
Students who fail to submit a report on time will be able to defended it after a rotation session, following an individual agreement between the teacher and the student, to be accompanied by an individual Testl Sheet
Without passing practice report, the student must repeat the practice program after individual agreement with the course supervisor and the dean of the VMF or in the next academic year.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

During the traineeship each day students individually or in small groups (up to 5 people), following the lecturer's explanation and protocol, depending on the subject being studied (contact with animals, locking them, placing them in cages or cages, cleaning, feeding etc.) , behavioral analysis, welfare assessment, etc.) perform task, research and / or situation analysis independently. The student records the results of his / her work in a protocol of independent work, which is defended at the end of the topic and received an evaluation. Independent work with teaching staff is an integral part of traineeship.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired during the practice (test with a mark) is carried out by evaluating the practice diary and practice report in the 10 point system (evaluating the performance and analysis of all five tasks). The third assessment, which is taken into account when calculating the average mark in the balls, is the reference given by the veterinarian about the student's work (i.e. the characteristics), which is entered in the practice report by the manager at the place of practice. The final assessment of the practice (test with a mark) after the defence of the practice report is not changed anymore.

Compulsory reading

1. VALTNERIS A. Cilvēka fizioloģija. Rokasgrāmata. Otrais izdevums. Rīga, Zvaigzne ABC, 2009., 252 lpp. 2. ABERBERGA-AUGSKALNE L., Koroļova O. Fizioloģija ārstiem. Rīga, SIA „Medicīnas apgāds”, 2007., 516.lpp. 3. CUNNINGHAM J. (ed) Textbook of veterinary physiology. USA, Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders company, 2006., pp. 621. 4. WILLIAM O.REECE (ed) Duke’s Physiology of Domestic Animals, USA, Wiley Blackwol, 2015., pp 760. 5. Garančs A. Cilvēka un dzīvnieku fizioloģija jautājumos un atbildēs. Rīga, 2006., 340 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Journal of Veterinary Physiology
2. Open Access Animal Physiology
3. The Veterinary Journal
4. https://www.nature.com/subjects/animal-physiology
5. https://www.elsevier.com/catalog/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/physiology/animal-physiology
6. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Anatomy_and_Physiology_of_Animals

Notes

Compulsory course of study programme Veterinary medicine

Atsauksmes