Basics in Animal Nutrition

Abstract

This course builds on knowledge of nutritional sciences by translating the information on nutrition to individual farm animal species and purposes. The emphasis is on the principles of utilisation of and requirements for energy and nutrients and the resulting feed evaluation systems as applied for the relevant forms of livestock nutrition (e.g., cattle, pig, poultry).

Objective

Studying the course allows the students to explain the most important basic relationships of nutrition and digestion and energy metabolism. They are able to name and apply the range of feedstuffs. They are able to derive the requirements of the most important farm animals. By means of a series of exercise examples, they are taught how to apply the knowledge to concrete tasks in the field of animal nutrition.

Content

Turnover and utilisation of nutrients and energy in the animal (definition of terms, turnover in the animal body, balances, utilisation). Feed evaluation in cattle, pigs and poultry (energetic feed evaluation, evaluation of nitrogenous feed substance) Nutrition of cattle, pigs and poultry (basics of feeding, physiological characteristics, demand and demand coverage, feeding standards, ration design) Feed science (individual feedstuffs, farm-produced feed)

Resources