University of British Columbia, Animal Welfare Program, CANADA

Description of Elective Experience

The UBC Animal Welfare Program is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in research, agriculture, and other areas through research, teaching and public outreach. During their rotation, students will be able to work with animal science faculty members and graduate students on current research projects in the areas of dairy cattle welfare, welfare of animals used in research, wildlife-human interactions, welfare of companion animals, and stakeholder views on animal welfare and policy. In the process, students will learn about animal welfare research study design, implementation, and the impact this research has on public policy and animal husbandry practices. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to live and work at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre where approximately 500 animals are used for research as well as milked and housed in a typical modern dairy farm setting. At the Dairy Centre, students will also work with faculty, staff, and students on current research projects and learn more about dairy cattle welfare, research, and dairy herd management.

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.

Animal Welfare Program
- Converted laboratory space with offices and a meeting space
- Four faculty and staff members, as well as over twenty graduate/post-doctoral students work in this department
Dairy Education and Research Centre:
- Multiple buildings with access to conference rooms, research labs w/fume hoods, walk-in refrigerators and freezers
- Fully-equipped dairy barn with automated milking parlor, free-stall housing, maternity pens, and video monitoring of cows
- Sixteen faculty and staff members regularly work at the facility
- Student housing is available at the Research Centre

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?

40 hours/week of work is the minimum expected of students on this rotation. This is to be completed from Monday to Friday unless special circumstances require weekend work. Students may be required to work evenings and weekends at the Dairy Research Centre.

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info)