22756 - Ethology and Animal Welfare

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the student with the physiological basis of animal behaviour, to deepen the knowledge of ethology and animal welfare and to provide knowledge on environmental and social standards compatible with the minimum needs of animal welfare. At the end of the course, the students will know the basics of animal behaviour, its dysfunctions and will be able to set ethological and behavioural investigations, aimed at the relief of well-being and ethopathic situations. They will be able to manage necessary interventions to solve the problem.

Course contents

Etology concepts: descriptive etology, experimental etology, etologic areas, targets and methods in etology. Motivations: features of the finalistic behaviour, motivation models, evaluation of the intensity of the motivation, motivation analyses, motivation systems, physiologic bases of motivations, hormones and motivation, impulses. Stimuli: causing mechanisms, key-stimuli, arousing signals, interspecific arousing signals, hypernormal arousing signals, addition of stimuli, filtration, fluctuations of the reaction threshold, specific weariness. Behaviour: development of behaviour, maturation of behavioural patterns, instinct, learning and memory, temporal and hyerarchic organisation of behaviour, cohordination of bahvioural patterns, spontaneous components in behaviour, conflictual behaviour, schemes of hierarchy of instincts, appetitive behaviour and consuming action, quiescence phase, domestication, features caused by domestication, causes of phenomena connected with domestication. Physiology of behaviour: nervous system and behaviour, hormonal effects on behaviour. Learning: classification of learning, biological meaning of the acquired information, learning phases, learning processes. Welfare: definitions, evalutation of welfare, welfare indicators. Behaviour and welfare of cattle, pigs, etc.

Readings/Bibliography

• C.Carenzi, M.Panzera - Etologia applicata e benessere animale - vol.I e II Ed. Le Point Vétérinaire Italie
• F. Grasso, G. De Rosa, F. Napolitano - Comportamento e benessere degli animali in produzione zootecnica Editore: Aracne
• Notes present on the IOL platform (https://iol.unibo.it/)

Recommended for further information

• K.A. Houpt Il Comportamento degli Animali Domestici Ed. italiana a cura di Verga M., Carenzi C. EMSI - Edizioni Mediche Scientifiche Internazionali, Roma.

Teaching methods

Theoretical lectures, practice, seminars, practical activities.

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning is through a final exam (oral) which ensures the achievement of the educational objectives and the acquisition of knowledge occurs in the program of the course.


The final grade is originated by the demonstration of the student to have acquired the knowledge and skills required and the ability to link between the various themes as well as the possession of a mastery of expression and specific language materials.

The grading will follow the following criteria:

Grades 18-19: Given when the student has limited preparation on only a few topics covered in the course and limited analytical skills, which only emerge with the help of the teacher, as long as the overall language is correct.

Grades 20-24: Assigned to students who show preparation on a limited number of topics addressed in the course and have autonomous analysis skills limited to purely executive questions, as long as the language is correct.

Grades 25-29: Awarded if the student demonstrates extensive preparation on a wide range of topics covered in the course, the ability to independently make critical analysis choices, and mastery of the specific terminology.

Grade 30 (cum laude): Reserved for students who achieve exhaustive preparation on all topics covered in the course, have the ability to independently make critical analysis choices and connections, demonstrate full mastery of the specific terminology, and showcase strong argumentation and self-reflection skills.

Please note that the above-mentioned grades are awarded based on the specified criteria and the performance of the students in the course.

The valuation obtained has no time limits of validity.

The verbalization can occur in the absence of the student.

The examination, in addition to the dates published on AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm) can be supported at any time by appointment with the teachers.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, laboratories.

Office hours

See the website of Pier Attilio Accorsi