Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Animal Welfare is a one-year (2 semesters) postgraduate master study with 60 ECTS credits indicating the workload required to complete the study. The task of the study is to upgrade student knowledge and skills with the latest concepts in the field, to render them competent for independent work in the field of farm animal welfare. The study is focused on the principles of animal welfare related to humane and ethically acceptable procedures in animal management, and legal regulations in the field of farm animal welfare including game breeding. The students will receive education in applied ethology, e.g., normal and abnormal behaviours in farm animals, welfare issues in these species, and possibilities for their welfare improvement. In addition, the latest concepts on the welfare indicators and assessment in particular farm animal species will be presented to students. Animal welfare in slaughterhouses relative to meat quality and safety is a separate subject. Students will also receive education on animal welfare economics. Upon completing the study, students receive Master’s degree in Farm Animal Welfare. Students that have completed the studies in veterinary medicine or animal sciences can enrol this programme. Students need not enrol the entire study curriculum but only particular subjects for which they will receive a certificate with the respective ECTS credits as part of their continuing lifelong education.

Upon completion of the study, the students will be able to:

  • explain the concepts of animal welfare
  • use the knowledge in applied ethology to improve farm animal welfare
  • assess poultry welfare
  • assess cattle welfare
  • assess pig welfare
  • assess the welfare of sheep and goats
  • assess the welfare of farmed deer and gamebirds
  • assess the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses
  • point out the gaps in farm management
  • apply economic analyses of animal welfare
  • interpret legislation in the field of farm animal welfare protection.

ECTS points: 60 ECTS
Duration: 2 semesters
FEE: 7500 € per semester or 15000 € in total
Head of the study: Associate Professor Mario Ostović, PhD
e-mail: mostovic@vef.hr

Farm Animal Welfare
21. Apr
Great news!

Great news!

This postgraduate master course has entered the final stage of accreditation at the University of Zagreb. So we expect to be enrolling new students in the Fall of 2021. Stay tuned and watch the news on our webpage!  

izv. prof. dr. sc. Mario Ostović

Predstojnik; izvanredni profesor
Mario Ostović

prof. dr. sc. Željko Pavičić

redoviti profesor, trajno zvanje
Željko Pavičić

prof. dr. sc. Kristina Matković

redovita profesorica u trajnom izboru
Kristina Matković

prof. dr. sc. Zdravko Janicki

redoviti profesor u trajnom zvanju
Zdravko Janicki

prof. dr. sc. Nevijo Zdolec

redoviti profesor
Nevijo Zdolec

prof. dr. sc. Marina Pavlak

Predstojnica; redovita profesorica
Marina Pavlak

Mandatory courses

Animal welfare history, concepts and science

Applied ethology and animal welfare

Poultry behaviour and welfare

Cattle behaviour and welfare

Pig behaviour and welfare

Sheep and goat behaviour and welfare

Behaviour and welfare of farmed deer and gamebirds

Animal welfare at slaughter

Animal welfare economics

Animal welfare ethics and law

Are you thinking of studying Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb?

More about the programmes

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