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Dra. Beatriz Zapata S.Coordinator Unit of Ethology and Animal Welfare
Veterinary School, Universidad Mayor, Chile
Best Teaching Practice in Animal Welfare
ContentsSome thoughts:
Why should an animal welfare course be taught?
What should be taught?
How should be taught? What should be learned?
Conclusions
Introduction
Animal welfare courses for veterinarians since 1986 – University of Cambridge, UK.Animal welfare courses gradually increased since 1995.In Latin America, lectures on animal welfare beganapproximately in 2000.Currently there is widespread agreement on the importance of including animal welfare in the education of veterinarians.
Why should an animal welfare course be taught?
Why should an animal welfare course be taught?
Cultural change regarding the attitude of people towardsanimals.
Ethical concerns about the use of animals.
New knowledge.
New animal welfare/protection legislations .
Background: Some important milestones for the improvement of animal welfare
1965, Brambell Report
1974, EU first law of Animal welfare (Protection of Animals during Slaughter)
2002, OIE begins working to define animal welfare standards.
In the EU, gestation crates for sows were phased out after the fourth week of pregnancy in 2013.
FAO proposed a strategy to improve animal welfare mainly for developing countries.
1986, first lecture of animal welfare ‐ University of Cambridge, UK.
Cultural change regarding the attitudeof people towards animals
Change of attitudes of consumers.
Change of livestockpractices.
Change of attitude of Veterinary students.
Ethical concerns about the use of animals
• “3Rs”: • To reduce, relace and refine the use of
animals for teaching and research (Russell y Burch, 1959)
• “3S”: • To suppress, substitute and soothe painful
procedures in farm animals (Guatteo et al., 2012)
New knowledge
• Methods of animal welfareassessment• New indicators of animal welfare
• Protocols to assess animal welfare at group level
Photos: Beatriz Zapata S.
Legislation of animal protection/animal welfare
• Law of Protection of Animals, 2009• Decrees 28, 29 and 30, 2013
• Protect animals in intensive productivesystems.
• Responsible of animal care mustdemostrate animal welfare competencies.
What should be taught?
What should be taught?
Explain animal welfare and responsibilities of professionals responsible of animal care.
Identify animal welfareproblems and how to applycorrective actions.
Find information to improveanimal welfare.
National and internationalanimal welfare regulations
What should be taught?
(de Boo & Knight, 2006, Proceeding 5th Congress ALTEX 23)
How should be taught?
What should be learned?
How should be taught? What should be learned?
A New course? Transversal education?
*Ideal, but it is not always feasible*Professors with expertiseon animal welfare are needed
*Adequate when lecturers haveupdated knowledge on animal welfare. *Good coordination of teachers is necessary to assure that the minimum content to be taught
How should be taught? What should be learned?Competencies: knowledge
Identifiy species‐especific behaviorsand emotions in animals
Explain neurobiological bases of behaviors and emotions.
Recognize physiological and behavioural signs of stress and pain
Explain physiological changesinvolved in stress and pain response
Recognize animal welfare problemsin animals under any kind of exploitation.
EvaluationsCo
mplexity
•Essays
•Models
•Diagrams
How should be taught? What should be learned?
Competencias: skillsDescribe behavioral changesunder stress
Assess animal welfare usingscientific indicators
Implement and assessenvironmental enrichmentprogram
Apply protocols to assessanimal welfare
Complexity
Implement actions to improveanimal welfare.
Evaluation
•Field work reports
•Video analyizis
•Intervention and assessment in the field
Photo: Universidad Mayor
How should be taught? What should be learned?
Competencies: attitudesCo
mplexity
EvaluationValues living and sintientbeings
Recognize the cultural value of animal welfare
Values the human animal relationship
Critical thinking regardingtraditional animal management practices
Debate about animal welfare applying scientificand ethical arguments.
•Seminars to general public
•Essays
•Round table
•Role playing
Photos: U
niversidad
Mayor
More important than contents....
Consistency in the education process
“3Rs” in the teaching – humane veterinary education
Avoid methods of teaching and training that harm animals
Photos: U
niversidad
Mayor
Main barriers to better improve education on animal welfare
Lack of specialists
Important recent knowledge and developments, requiresupdating Veterinarians.
Information mainly in English=> limitation for students whospeak a different language.
Resistance of teachers to include animal welfare topics in their courses.
Conclusions
The veterinarians have an active role to improve animal welfare.
To improve animal welfare in society is required to form veterinarians with knowledge, skills and attitudes consistent with the promotion of animal welfare, as the veterinarian is an intermediary in changing behavior of producers, technicians and researchers.
To improve animal welfare education of veterinarians a transversal and consistent animal welfare education is required.
Dra. Beatriz Zapata S.
Coordinator Unit of Ethology and Animal Welfare, Veterinary School,, Universidad Mayor
Thank you verymuch for yourattention!