PSVII-26 Integrating hands-on animal behavior experience into an undergraduate animal science course.

Compared with years past, undergraduate animal science students have little prior experience with farm animals. Limited experience with animals leaves students with an inadequate understanding of how to decipher animal behavior. In order to be well-prepared for managing animals and people in future careers, it’s important for animal science students to have a foundational understanding of animal behavior. To expose students to established methods for animal behavior research and increase their overall understanding of animal behavior, weekly hands-on activities were assigned as a part of an undergraduate animal behavior and welfare course. Cattle handling at a commercial feedlot had been previously recorded and this video footage was edited to produce clips approximately five minutes in length. For each of 14 weeks during the semester, students used an ethogram to observe and record cattle behavior in the video clips. The objectives were 1) to introduce animal science students to methods for studying animal behavior, and 2) increase their understanding of cattle behavior. This approach was designed to reinforce concepts presented in lecture. Weekly activities were used to measure students’ understanding of cattle behavior, and their use of established tools to study animal behavior, using the mastery learning approach. Participation in weekly animal behavior activities contributed to student success in the course.