ANIMAL NUTRITION - 2021/2

Module Overview

In this module you will study the essential micro and macronutrients for animals and understand how feedstuff is evaluated.  You will also study the different forms of forage that are available and how they influence feed consumption. Furthermore, you will study the species specific anatomical and physiological differences relevant to animal nutrition. Using lab based ration programmes, you will be able to apply your knowledge to formulate diets across the species. The module will also introduce the basic principles of veterinary toxicology and veterinary pharmacology and how these influence companion animal and commercial livestock production. A 2 hr gut dissection will be provided for students.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

SELEMETAS Nick (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Topic

•             Introduction & Macronutrients

•             Vitamins

•             Minerals

•             Digestive anatomy & physiology: ruminants & nonruminants

•             Feedstuff evaluation: digestibility, energy, protein

•             Forage: forms, intake & feed consumption

•             Feeding patterns: daily rhythms and behaviour

•             Feed additives: growth & immune boosting, antimicrobial

•             Feeding standards: maintenance & growth, reproduction/lactation

•             The use of computer programmes in animal nutrition

•             Nutrition & feeding cattle & sheep

•             Nutrition, feeding & health of poultry

•             Equine nutrition

•             Nutrition for companion animals (dogs, cats)

•             Assessment: Individual presentation

•             Antimicrobials – veterinary considerations – to include resistance, withdrawal times

•             Antiparasitics – ectoparasites and helminths - to include resistance, withdrawal times

•             Growth promoters – to include rationale, problems, types of drug used

•             Doping – horses and other species

•             Basic principles of toxicology – acute vs chronic, eating habits, role of metabolism, principles of therapy

•             Agrochemical poisoning – herbicides, insecticides

•             Food toxicology; a veterinary perspective

•             In-class test MCQ

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:- 

A detailed knowledge of the nutrition of companion and livestock species using a variety of assessment methods. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Written work – Deadline teaching week 7

Presentation- oral defense of written paper  - Deadline teaching week  9 &10 

Short answer paper summer exam period 

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will have the opportunity to submit both a lay and scientific article for formative peer assessment during timetabled sessions. Using the feedback, they then submit EITHER the lay OR the scientific article for summative assessment 

A pre presentation and writing training  session will be available 

Module aims

• Provide an overview of the principles of animal nutrition, toxicology and pharmacology

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Develop independent thinking and analytical skills. Furthermore, the teaching and learning strategy aims to develop written and oral presentations skills.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Lectures

Presentations 

Independent learning

Self directed learning

Workshops

In-class test MCQs

Practical animal handling

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2054

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.