Dual Credit- Animal Handling, Welfare and Ethics

About Course

With a teaching and learning online piece, as well as an in-person lab compotent.

1. Demonstrate safe and low-stress restraint and handling of various classes of livestock
2. Identify stressors and abnormal behaviour patterns in livestock and implement solutions to
alleviate these problems and provide adequate care.
3. Demonstrate safe and low stress handling of herds/flocks applying natural animal movement
and behaviour concepts.
4. Design a livestock handling system incorporating theories and technologies with relevance to
low-stress and safe handling
5. Communicate and navigate with individuals regarding animal welfare topics.

Course Content

Course Information

Safe and Low Stress Handling of Livestock
1. Describe how Temple Grandin’s approach to stockmanship resulted in positive change in North America’s livestock industry 2. Discuss the life of Bud Williams, his guiding philosophies and explain his local connection to the Lloydminster area 3. Discuss Curt Pate’s approach to stockmanship and his areas of expertise. 4. List the three central elements of good stockmanship and explain what is meant by each element 5. Discuss the four common causes of injury to livestock handlers 6. List several reasons why livestock may become aggressive to humans 7. Recognize the signs of aggression in various classes of livestock 8. Explain the 3 comfort zones in prey animals and describe how they behave for each zone. 9. Identify the 3 comfort zones, the point of balance and the blind spots on a grazing animal and explain how they can be used to manage movement in an individual animal and herd. 10. List 5 instincts in cattle that can be used to the animal handler’s advantage 11. Discuss helpful handling techniques for improving livestock flow handling facilities a. Discuss the factors that influence the size of the flight zone for a livestock animal b. Explain how a prey animal’s ‘Point of Balance’ can be used to manage herd movement c. Demonstrate how the ‘Loose Bunching’ herd instinct is used when initiating herd movement d. Explain how momentum can be used e. Teaching good manners

Animal Behavior
12. Discuss what is meant by the ‘Science of Ethology’ 13. Name and identify the subject of study of the 3 pivotal scientists that pioneered the science of ethology. 14. Explain the different between Objectivity and Subjectivity and why it is important in the field of Ethology 15. List the 4 primal emotions of livestock 16. Discuss how an animal’s perception differs from human perception and describe the differences in how the grazing animals experience the 5 sense 17. Explain how sensory memory and thinking affects behaviours in animals 18. List the three main drivers of Animal Behaviour 19. Explain what is meant by ‘Heritability’ and discuss how individual traits can be ranked based on research 20. Discuss the various types of learning that can occur throughout an animal’s lifetime 21. Name three hormones that can affect how livestock behave and discuss their effects on the animal

Livestock Facilities
7. Discuss the 4 levels of pressure in an alleyway and increase of pressure within each category 28. Describe what a ‘Bud Box’ is and explain how and why it works effectively to move livestock into alleyways 29. Work through the decision-making process to determine which type of restraint is appropriate in a given situation 30. Discuss several tools and methods that can be used to restrain livestock in different situations 31. Become familiar with different designs and features of Squeeze Chutes and Head Gates for cattle32. Explain the advantage of a double file alley system in handling facilities 33. Identify the ideal angle of entry from a crowding area into an alleyway system34. Create a facility that uses several of Dr. Temple Grandin’s design strategies for improving flow of livestock 35. Analyze various facility designs 36. Select appropriate driving aids for use in moving livestock through handling facilities according to species 37. Discuss how vocalizations can be an indicator of stress for different species

Low-Stress Management
38. Explain how stress can result in decreased performance and profitability of livestock operations 39. Discuss several examples of physical stressors that can afflict livestock 40. Discuss several examples of psychological stressors that can afflict livestock 41. Describe why it is difficult to identify and measure pain in prey animals 42. List the three categories of pain that animals can experience and define each category 43. Evaluate validity, method and alternatives for painful procedures in livestock on any given livestock operation 44. Explain the difference between an analgesic and an anesthetic 45. List the three classes of systemic analgesics and discuss which are most useful in painful procedures for livestock 46. Give examples of common NSAID’s that are used with livestock

Animal Welfare
47. Discuss the main concepts of the Animal Care Committee within institutions as well as the Canadian Council on Animal Care. 48. Discuss ‘the danger of snapshots’ and explain the importance of fact gathering before rushing to judgment 49. Discuss the importance of being ‘camera ready’ 50. Research factual data on specific issues that are brought to the public by means of social media 51. Explain how and why it is important for livestock producers to take an active role in regulating their industry 52. Illustrate the scope of public opinion on the topic of livestock production and recognize where various organizations fit on this scale 53. Discuss and describe some key things to help improve public perception of raising livestock 54. Respectfully discuss how many concessions livestock producers should concede in order to maintain the image of the livestock industry 55. Explain who HSUS is and why they are an important organization to recognize in the livestock industry 56. Discuss how undercover videos posted to social networking sites have impacted operations of animal activist groups 57. Explain who PETA is and the strategies they utilize to further their anti-livestock agenda 58. Discuss who makes up AFAC and list the organization’s mission, vision and guiding principles.