DR. JOB M. MATIAS
Associate Professor
Dairy Training & Research Institute
College of Agriculture
University of the Philippines Los Banos
College, Laguna 4031 PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63-49-5362513
Fax: +63-49-5362205

PROPOSAL

Animal Welfare Program:
Research, Education and Public Information
College of Agriculture
University of the Philippines Los Baños
http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/animalwelfare

The major components of the proposed Program are the following:
a. Research
b. Instruction
c. Public education

The animals in consideration are:
a. production animals in agriculture (food animals, draft or work)
b. companion animals
c. animals in sports
d. animals in instruction and research
e. animals used in human entertainment (zoos, private collections and wildlife in captivity)
f. wild and semi-wild animals in natural state

To provide basic and new information, and analysis of existing situations for the over-all welfare and well being of animals. The direction of welfare related research must be on the following points:

a. basic welfare requirements of the animals under local conditions in terms of housing, transportation, slaughter, handling, use as draft and over-all care and management
b. use of ethology (behavior) as a means of assessing welfare
c. preference testing to determine comfort and motivations
d. the design and development of management systems to suit specific animal needsin specific conditions

Educational institutions have an obligation to teach and prepare students the basics of animal welfare so that they could understand in depth ethics and humane stewardship of animals. This knowledge will prepare them professionally, respond effectively to challenges and resolve animal welfare problems..

The Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI)-Institute of Animal Science (IAS), College of Agriculture (CA), in collaboration with the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), College, Laguna has proposed an Animal Welfare Courses for immediate implementation:

Animal Science 191. Undergraduate Special Topics. ANIMAL WELFARE AND BEHAVIOR. Ethics of animal use and analyzing well being concerns through behavior.

Animal Science 290. Graduate Special Topics. ANIMALWELFARE: Principles and ethical use of animals in research, production, sport and companionship.

At UPLB, novel courses are first offered as Special Topics before its implementation as regular credit courses.

a. handling
b. health considerations
c. housing
d. nutrition
e. transportation methods
f. humane slaughter
g. use as work or draft
h. use as human entertainment
i. animal fights (e.g. cockfighting, horsefight, dogfight)

Proposed and on-going major activities are:
a. University Tour Program
    1. Seminars, discussions and symposia on Animal Welfare issues
b. Initial undertakings
    1. Development of a web page as an avenue for public education, discussion and exchange of information on         issues in animal welfare and ethical treatment of animals.
        http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/animalwelfare
    2. E-mail and/or internet-based discussion group on animal welfare:
        http://www.egroups.com/list/animalwelfare