(Photo by Dr. Anne Quain)

Animal Welfare and the Ethics of Animal Use (APBI 315) 

January – April 2025 

Place  

We are conducting the class on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people whose culture includes a distinctive understanding of animals that has been passed from one generation to the next on the site now occupied by UBC.  

Time  

The class meets on Tuesday and Thursday, 14:00-15:20 in MacMillan Bldg., room 160.  Because the course is strongly based on discussion and exchange of ideas, regular attendance is highly recommended.   

Learning objectives  

• Recognize the diversity of factors (values, knowledge, technology, regulations and economics) that enter into decisions about animal use in agriculture, wildlife management, animal research, and use of companion animals, 

• Describe scientific research designed to understand and improve animal welfare (recognizing pain and distress, understanding animals’ environmental preferences, etc.), 

• Practice finding, analyzing, and critically evaluating information, including the scientific literature, as a basis for problem solving, 

• Explain a research topic to the class and facilitate a short discussion on the topic, and discuss other topics with people whose views may be different from their own, 

• Characterize and compare different philosophical positions on animal use (rights-based views, utilitarian views, etc.), and acknowledge the diversity of ethical views on the relationships between humans and other species, 

• Bring together scientific research, philosophical positions and other factors to fully explore a research topic. 

Learning activities  

The course relies heavily on “discussion-based learning”. Most classes involve exercises and discussions that are based on readings that must be done before the class. A high level of attendance and participation is crucial for success. Little material is presented in lecture format, and this is intended to help consolidate learning that happens through reading, discussion and exercises. Lecture material will not typically be posted on-line; factual recall of lecture material is not an objective of the course.   

Participation is linked to all of the learning objectives. There will be opportunities throughout term to participate in different ways, including small-group discussions, posting on Canvas discussion boards, peer reviews of presentations and term papers, and preparing short answers based on class activities that will be submitted on Canvas before and after class. 

Student resources and wellness 

UBC has many resources for students. The UBC library has online guides for research and the Chapman Learning Commons provides peer support on a variety of topics. This course involves a lot of writing, and so you might find the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication helpful, as they provide workshops and individual writing consultations. Your wellness is important. The AMS has a variety of resources and support, including health and wellbeing services. 

Instructors   

Katie Koralesky (she, her, hers), Room 180 B MacMillan, katie.koralesky@ubc.ca 

Welcome to APBI 315! Please feel free to call me Katie. I am a Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow in the Animal Welfare Program. As an animal welfare scientist, I study human factors that influence animal welfare. My research explores how human behaviour and values inform animal care practices on farms and in animal shelters, the role of policy in improving animal welfare, and views on new technology in animal agriculture. In addition to teaching this course, I have taught courses on applied and qualitative research methods. I am grateful to live in a place where oceans and mountains meet, and am continuing to learn about Indigenous people in Canada in the past and present, including how to honor and elevate Indigenous knowledge. I enjoy playing beach volleyball, reading mysteries, and exploring BC with my dog Finn. I look forward to teaching this course and getting to know you all! 

Elizabeth Russell (she, her, hers), Room 190A MacMillan (T, Th), elizr18@mail.ubc.ca  

Hello everyone! I am excited to be your TA for APBI 315 this term. You can call me Elizabeth (she/her/hers), and I’m a PhD student in the Animal Welfare Program. My research focuses on dairy calf welfare and farmer behaviour. Currently, I’m running a study on commercial dairy farms in the Fraser Valley, so when I’m not in class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you’ll likely find me at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre in Agassiz. When I’m not immersed in cow-related research, I spend my time riding my horse, Penny, trying my hand at ceramics, and singing in a local community choir. This is my fourth time TA-ing this course, and I’m thrilled to work with Katie to make your APBI 315 experience both fun and rewarding.

Contacting instructors  

We enjoy teaching this course and don’t want to put limits on when you can contact us. Normally we would say to drop in when it is convenient for you. In this day in age, we recommend reaching out via email first, then we can arrange a time to meet up. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch.    

Learning materials  

• The textbook is: Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in its Cultural Context, 2nd edition by David Fraser, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2023. We will start to use the textbook in the third week of the course. The textbook is an incredibly helpful resource and would likely be helpful in other courses. 

• For the 5-6 classes on ethical theories applied to animals, readings will be posted on Canvas 

• There are multiple ways to access the textbook: 

• To purchase the eBook: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Understanding+Animal+Welfare%3A+The+Science+in+its+Cultural+Context%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781119626404 

• To purchase the hardcopy ($80 for 2023 edition): Contact Elizabeth at elizr18@mail.ubc.ca 

• eBook from the UBC Library (1st edition only published in 2008)  

• The 1st and 2nd edition are available in Woodward Library reference section 

• We will utilize Canvas regularly for communication and other learning materials, for example discussion boards and announcements. 

Course structure  

In the introductory sessions we will examine one controversial issue to see the range of factors that enter into decisions about the use of animals. Then follows a series of classes, each on a different aspect of animal welfare research. Third, we look at several different ethical theories that are used in contemporary discussions of animal use. A series of student presentations throughout the term will expose the class to a wide range of issues involving animal welfare and the ethics of animal use.  

1. Introduction 

• Ethical vs. empirical issues 

• Values, knowledge, technology, regulation, and economics as factors that affect decisions 

2. Scientific approaches to animal welfare

• Public concerns about animal welfare and the emergence of animal welfare science     

• Abnormal behaviour 

• Disease, injury and production 

• Stress 

• Affective states 

• Natural living 

• Preferences and motivation 

• Human-animal interaction 

3. Philosophical approaches to animal use and current topics

• One Welfare 

• Utilitarianism 

• Rights-based approaches 

• Traditional husbandry ethics 

• Relational/feminist approaches 

• Technology 

• Non-Western perspectives  

4. Specific topics

• Wide range of topics covered in student and other presentations 

Evaluation   

Evaluation emphasizes comprehension of concepts, critical thinking, independent research and effective communication, as evidenced by written assignments, in-class discussion, participatory activities, a term paper, and a presentation and discussion of the term paper research to the class.   

Assignment schedule & marks 

Plagiarism  

This course involves a lot of writing. Before taking the course, be sure you are very clear on what is considered plagiarism at UBC. Everything should be written “from scratch” in your own words. If you want to include text from any source – a paper, the internet, or another student – the material should appear in quotation marks and the source should be clearly acknowledged. Sometimes plagiarism happens accidentally, for example if someone copies material into their rough notes and then uses the notes in their own writing.  

To help avoid such problems we request that students use Turnitin for their term paper and other assignments. You can submit your assignment to Turnitin on Canvas, and we will set this up for each assignment.  

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI; e.g., ChatGPT) 

Generative AI like ChatGPT has and will continue to change our world. Many scientific journals are now considering what this technology means for research ethics and integrity. Some journals, for example, PLoS One, now require researchers “to disclose any AI tools used in the study or an article’s contents, and to ensure the accuracy and correct attribution of ideas generated by AI tools.” In this class, we have integrated AI into an assignment and will discuss using this technology as a tool. Students are permitted to use AI tools for formative work such as gathering information or brainstorming but may not use it on any assessed work or final submission. 

University Policies  

UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available on the UBC Senate website.