ANIMALS IN SOCIETY 3 - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module will build upon the Animals in Society 1 (AS1) module taught in Year One of the BVMSci programme. Students will gain more advanced skills in handling and restraint including clinical examination of the core species (cattle, sheep, horse, dog and cat), whilst considering biosecurity measures. This module will present core husbandry knowledge and handling skills in pigs, poultry, camelids, goats, fish, exotic and wildlife species and small mammals including rabbits and rodents. The use or purpose of these animal species and the UK and global industries will be covered. Students will continue to develop knowledge of animal husbandry focusing on processes, outcomes and audits undertaken during their extra-mural studies (EMS). The course will include practicals on animal handling, incorporating personal protection equipment and biosecurity.

Module provider

School of Veterinary Medicine

Module Leader

LINGARD Esther (Vet Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Content

• Biosecurity, welfare codes and legislation


• Handling and husbandry systems in pigs, poultry, camelids, aquaculture, exotic species and small mammals – including their environmental, nutritional and welfare needs


• Clinical examination and advanced handling of core animal species


• Animal industries – to include pigs, poultry, camelids, goats and aquaculture in the UK. 


• Animal Practicals for handling, husbandry (including welfare and behaviour): these will done using the animal handling facilities at the vet school and also off campus visits to various locations. This will involve transporting the students venues by bus where the students will have the opportunity to gain experience in pigs, poultry, camelids, aquaculture, exotic and wildlife species.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Resits for the EMS audit presentation involve a re-attempt at the same assessment brief on a placement of their choice. In the case of a student not having attended an auditable placement, it will involve a 1000 word reflective essay on a given husbandry scenario selected such the students demonstrate knowledge of the species area which they failed.  Resits for the Portfolio will involve an essay assignment of 1000 words, to outline the handling of a given species in a husbandry scenario provided.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their practical safe handling, their understanding of animal husbandry, behavior, and the welfare, nutrition in various species and general clinical examination in core species. The methods of summative assessment are also aligned to develop the student's digital capabilities using a range of online formats, and programme formats. Thus the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• EMS Audit Presentation –students are required to devise and perform an audit of one of the facilities that they will visit during their EMS, and present their findings to their peers and examiners - 20%


• Portfolio –Pass/Fail; Students learn a defined essential range of advanced animal handling and restraint techniques in each of the core species, including complete general clinical examination. The portfolio has four completion assets which are ;1-animal handling and husbandry reflections for various species; 2-general clinical examination online learning activities for three core species; 3-Peer review of a simulated clinical examination in the three core species; 4-Formative MCQ online test. Portfolio unit of assessment is pass/fail


• Written Examination - 2hr exam during the formal exam period - 80%

Module aims

• Develop more advanced skills in the safe animal handling and restraint in core species, including clinical examination, whilst considering biosecurity measures.
• Develop a detailed knowledge of husbandry practices, nutrition, behaviour and handling techniques in pigs, poultry, camelids, fish, exotic and wildlife species and small mammals including rabbits. Includes species native to the UK, and species which reflect more global populations.
• An insight into the pig, poultry, camelid, goat and aquaculture industries in the UK.
• A deeper knowledge of how audits can be used to measure, manage and monitor husbandry.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Students will build upon the knowledge and skills gained in the AS1 module, and will be taught more advanced handling skills and complete clinical examination in the core veterinary species using online learning resources and peer review.

Students will develop an understanding of the husbandry and handling of pigs, poultry, camelids, fish, exotic and wildlife species, and will gain insight into these industries in the UK. This will incorporate the nutrition, welfare and behaviour of these species.

The learning and teaching methods include: lectures, animal handling practicals, online Panopto teaching and husbandry audits 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: VMS2010

Other information

The Surrey Framework consist of the attributes: employability, global and cultural capabilities, digital capabilities, sustainability and resourcefulness and resilience. This module includes the following key topics which further develop one or more of the attributes as indicated:

• Global and cultural capabilities - Veterinary students will develop intercultural awareness and informed views on global, social and ethical issues related to their discipline. Veterinary students will develop competencies to engage effectively with people from different backgrounds in ways that respects the interests of cultural groups and individual rights. They will develop appreciation of a diversity of cultural experience and ways of relating to others without stereotyping during their professional activities.
• Digital capabilities - Students will develop and will be able to demonstrate digital capabilities most relevant to the veterinary profession.
• Employability - Each veterinary student will develop a set of individual, interpersonal, and professional skills, which are relevant to their veterinary profession, veterinary career ambitions, and employability.
• Resourcefulness and resilience - Students will develop independence, agility, reflectiveness, self-awareness, proactivity and self-regulation appropriate for their veterinary professional life.
• Sustainability - Veterinary students will develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes needed to work, live and lead in a way that meets current needs of the profession without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.