ANIMALS IN SOCIETY 1 - 2026/7

Module Overview

This module will present core knowledge and skills in the husbandry and handling of dogs, cats, sheep, cattle and horses. Students will gain insight into why we keep animals and the use or purpose of these animal species and the UK and global industries. They will acquire basic theoretical and practical knowledge of the safe handling and restraint of core animal species, whilst considering biosecurity measures. Students will develop a basic knowledge of normal animal behaviour, ethics, welfare and nutrition and a detailed knowledge of animal husbandry focusing on processes, outcomes and audits.

The course will include practicals on animal handling, including personal protection equipment and husbandry audits.  

Module provider

School of Veterinary Medicine

Module Leader

NAWAZ Shah (Vet Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

1. Animals in society and the human animal bond
2. Principles of animal welfare, behaviour and ethics
3. Husbandry systems ¿ including the environmental, nutritional and welfare needs of animals
4. Animal industries ¿ to include cattle, sheep, dog, cat and horse industries in the UK
5. Handling and restraint of animals taking accounting for behaviour and welfare
6. Assessment of behaviour and welfare  of animals in various husbandry systems
7. Biosecurity, personal hygiene and personal protective equipment

Practicals

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 the core species that they will encounter in first opinion practice.  

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Students unable to attend the farm visit practical will complete an alternative assessment: an audit essay outlining key areas of a dairy farm audit and their importance, supported by relevant scientific literature and industry standards. Following submission, students will complete an oral assessment summarising key points and answering questions.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their practical safe handling, their understanding of animal husbandry, behaviour, and the welfare and nutrition of the various species.

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

Portfolio-PASS / FAIL

Students learn a defined essential range of animal handling and restraint techniques in each of the core species. Students will have to pass a summative practical assessment of each technique within each species, which takes place during the teaching session. This is required by the RCVS.

Students who fail the assessment the first time will have 2 opportunities to resit:

• Once during semester 1
• The second during semester 2

Students requiring a second resit in semester 2 will not be permitted to attend AHEMS for the species for which they have failed until the species has been passed.

Husbandry Audit Report

Students are required to devise and conduct a husbandry audit of a visited facility and submit a written audit report with appropriate in-text citations.

Examination- 2-hour exam during the formal exam period.

(Exam units are onsite, closed-book, invigilated, fixed-time assessments delivered through SurreyLearn using campus PC Labs)

Formative Assessment and feedback

Formative verbal feedback during the first handling of the practical for each species. 

Further information on Qualifying Conditions

A weighted aggregate mark of 50% and a pass in all components of the portfolio must be achieved to pass the module.

Module aims

• Basic skills in safe animal handling and restraint in core species
• Understanding of personal protection equipment and basic biosecurity
• A basic understanding of the nutritional requirements, feed stuffs, and feeding management
• A basic understanding of animal behaviour, ethics, and welfare, and how this is impacted in various production systems
• A knowledge of how audits can be used to measure, manage, and monitor husbandry
• An understanding of why we keep animals
• A knowledge of the animal industries and food chains

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Students will be taught and assessed on safe handling in the core veterinary species to allow them to progress to their animal husbandry placements on farm environments with a basic understanding of animal husbandry including nutrition and how these impact on welfare and behaviour relating to that type of animal production.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Lectures, animal handling practicals, husbandry audit and self study: total 150 hours.

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: VMS1001

Other information

Other Information

The Surrey Framework consists of the attributes: Employability, Global and cultural capabilities, Digital capabilities, Sustainability, Resourcefulness and resilience. This module includes the following key topics, which further develop one or more of these attributes.

Employability:
This module fosters the development of essential practical and professional competencies aligned with the RCVS Day One Competences, preparing students for veterinary and animal-related careers. Students gain hands-on experience in handling and restraining core species and strengthen their observational and reporting skills through a farm audit.  Together, these build the practical abilities required for clinical and husbandry practice, animal welfare assessment, consultancy, and regulatory compliance.

Digital Capabilities:

Throughout the module, students are required to use digital technology for virtual learning, engage with digital research tools, access the academic databases for literature evaluation, use referencing software to produce evidence-based written work, and make appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Global and Cultural Capabilities:
This module introduces students to the role of animals within society and the structure of animal industries in the UK and globally. Through the study of different husbandry systems and the human¿animal relationship, students develop an awareness of how animal management practices may vary across production systems and societal contexts. Practical activities and the husbandry audit encourage students to consider welfare, ethics and management practices within real-world settings, supporting an understanding of how veterinary practice operates within wider societal and industry frameworks.

Resourcefulness and Resilience:
This module encourages students to develop resourcefulness and resilience through engagement in practical animal handling sessions, independent learning, and applied assessments. Students are required to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, such as safe animal handling and husbandry evaluation during audits. The combination of practical skill development, self-directed study and problem-solving in real-world contexts supports students in building confidence, adaptability and persistence as they progress through the module.

Sustainability:
Veterinary students will develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes needed to work, live and lead in a way that meets the 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 2026/7 academic year.