- Docente: Pier Attilio Accorsi
- Credits: 2
- SSD: MVET-01/B
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Veterinary Medicine (cod. 6735)
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from Oct 12, 2026 to Dec 16, 2026
Learning outcomes
He/she knows and understands animal behavior. Knows how to set up ethological and behavioral investigations aimed at assessing animal welfare.
Course contents
This course is part of the Integrated Course “FISIOLOGIA DELLE SPECIE DI INTERESSE VETERINARIO - 1 (C.I.)”.
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.
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, 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
Written exam with open-ended and multiple-choice questions
Teaching tools
Videoprojector, PC, laboratories.
Office hours
See the website of Pier Attilio Accorsi