Bristol Veterinary School

Information

• About Bristol Veterinary School
• Visitors
• The Langford Trust

About

• Research
• Services
• Undergraduate courses
• Postgraduate courses
  • Meat Science and Technology
    • Full-time option
    • Part-time option
    • Distance learning option
    • Training modules
    • Core skills module
    • Research projects
    • Entry requirements
    • Overseas students
    • Costs
    • Funding - Home students
    • Funding - Overseas students
    • Applications
    • Site information
    • Accommodation
    • Further information
    • Downloads
    • documents
  • MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation
• PhD opportunities
• CPD
• People at the Veterinary School

Staff and students

• Intranet - Staff links

Projects

• Bristol Cats Study
• CLAWS Feline Welfare Study
• Bristol Pecking Program
• Bristol Equine Welfare Project

Animal Welfare

Aims

To understand the science of animal welfare, the factors influencing welfare (on farm and post farm) and the consequences for meat quality.

Objectives

By the end of the course students will understand the following :

• The principles of animal welfare and the methodology used to assess welfare.
• The conditions that improve or adversely affect animal welfare on farm, post farm and at slaughter and how these can affect carcass/meat quality, with particular emphasis on stunning and slaughter methods.
• The background to current legislation and its implementation.

Content

There are 20 lectures, 1 tutorial. a 3 hour demonstration, two factory visits and a further 3 hours contact time.

Lectures and demonstrations

1. Physiological principles.
2. Welfare assessment methods.
3. Recognition of pain and distress in farm animals.
4. Animal behaviour and welfare.
5. Welfare of farm animals.
6. Welfare of red meat species.
7. Welfare aspects of sheep production.
8. Welfare of pigs on farm.
9. Transport of meat animals.
10. Casualty animal and abattoir design.
11. Preslaughter handling and meat quality.
12. Fish welfare.
13. Animal handling and HSA video.
14. Full AWO Training Course.
15. Gas stunning in pigs.
16. Welfare problems in broilers.
17. Broken bones in spent hens.
18. Poultry behaviour and welfare.
19. Fish welfare.
20. Stunning methods demonstration (3 hours).

Visits

1. Pig processing plant (southern Counties Fresh Foods, Huish Episcopi) (3/4 day).
2. Fish farm (1/2 day).