A group of university students studying animal behaviour and welfare have spent time at a working Cornish college farm to gain practical skills.

Students on the second year of the BSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Plymouth visiting Duchy College, Stoke Climsland and used the visit to review animal housing and handling requirements.

They were shown around the small animal unit by animal health and management course manager, Michelle Chappell who explained about rabbit housing and handling.

The next stop was the equine yard, where yard manager, Jo Challacombe, andequitation training and behaviour course manager, Sue Horseman, gave them an extensive tour of the stables, introduced to them to equine residents and explained how the horses’ behaviours and requirements are managed.

UOP student, Liberty Warren-Green, said it was ‘a great opportunity for us to be able visit all the different types of animals in one place. It has given us some valuable practical knowledge to help us with the assignment we are currently doing on animal housing.’

A short tractor and trailer ride to the farm was followed by agriculture programme manager, Jo Vincent, giving the students a tour of the cows’ housing and introducing them to the new calves.

The day was rounded off with a short overview on housing types by the HE equine staff and a question and answer session in the lecture theatre.

 Team lead for animal science at Duchy College, Alison Abbey, said: ‘The discussions between Plymouth University staff, students and our own staff showed promise in possible collaborative research projects in the future which we would welcome.’