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M.R. Russell, T.R. Troxel, C. Ahrens, H. Ward, M.L. Looper, B. Kutz, B. Chumbley, 017 Comparing post test scores for an animal handling and control workshop conducted two consecutive years, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 94, Issue suppl_1, February 2016, Pages 8–9, https://doi.org/10.2527/ssasas2015-017
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Abstract
Difficult decisions weigh often on the shoulders of animal control officers. Prior research demonstrated many of these officers do not have the animal health and wellbeing knowledge required for rendering welfare judgements, specifically on farm animals. An animal handling and welfare workshop was conducted for Arkansas animal control officers to demonstrate handling and health for livestock. There were two objectives: 1) To determine health and wellbeing knowledge gained for farm animals and 2) Compare results of posttests from current year (2015) and previous year (2014). For both yrs, there were 5 species of livestock presented: dairy and beef cattle, horse, goats, and sheep. Each species session was taught by faculty from the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture's Department of Animal Science. All sessions included healthy behavior, unhealthy symptoms, proper movement, and handling for each species. Eleven animal control officers participated in the 3 h workshop in 2015. To determine knowledge prior to the workshop, a pre-test was administered. A duplicate post-test was given at the end of the workshop. Each test consisted of photos of each species and one question: “What are things you might look for in a (species) that would indicate that it is not in good health?” Additionally, participants were asked to define the flight zone and point of balance for each animal. In the dairy species, participants increased their pre-test/posttest scores 14% (P = 0.58); knowledge was increased 300% in beef cattle (P = 0.01); knowledge gained increased for horses by 167% (P = 0.02); goats increased in pre-test/posttest knowledge by 200% (P = 0.01) and sheep 33% (P = 0.34). There was an increase in knowledge gained defining flight zone (700%, P = 0.01) and point of balance (530%, P = 0.04). Overall, participants showed a 150% increase (P = 0.01) in livestock knowledge. When compared to the previous year, there was a 35% increase in posttest scoring (P = 0.31). In an effort to increase knowledge gained, faculty should pursue areas to improve in subject area delivery and seek feedback from participants on areas to improve.
